Noise induced hearing loss is permanent. It is also preventable
Noise induced hearing loss is a permanent hearing loss caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds. Excessive noise is considered to be greater than 85dB over 8 hours. It cannot be reversed, but it can potentially be prevented with appropriate hearing protection. Ears To You provides advice and solutions for preventative measures and appropriate hearing protection.
Most hearing loss creeps up over decades and cannot be undone. Noise induced hearing loss is the exception in one important respect: it is one of the very few types you can almost entirely avoid, and the tools for doing so are inexpensive and unglamorous.
The catch is that damage does not hurt while it is happening. By the time speech in a noisy pub sounds mumbled, the exposure that caused it happened years ago.
How loud is too loud?
The working threshold is straightforward: excessive noise is considered to be greater than 85dB over 8 hours. Two things follow from that. Volume and duration trade off against each other, so louder means the safe window shrinks quickly. And the exposure adds up across a career rather than resetting each day.
A practical rule of thumb: if you need to raise your voice to be heard by someone at arm’s length, the environment is loud enough to be worth protecting against.
Who is most at risk
Many people are repeatedly exposed to excessive noise throughout their careers, including people working on construction sites, at airports, in factories, and musicians. Some industries require regular hearing screenings to monitor for any signs of deterioration, which is a good sign an employer is taking it seriously.
Outside of work, the same physics applies to power tools, motorsport, shooting ranges, live music and headphones worn loud enough to drown out a train.
Why generic earplugs get left in the toolbox
Foam plugs work, when they are worn. The problem is that they muffle everything, so conversation and warning signals disappear along with the noise, and people take them out. Anything uncomfortable ends up unused, and unused protection protects nothing.
For musicians in particular, generic plugs are unusable for a different reason: cutting the high frequencies harder than the low ones changes what you hear on stage. Custom earplugs for musicians exist to reduce level while preserving balance, so the mix still sounds like the mix.
Getting the right protection
Ears To You provides advice and solutions for preventative measures and appropriate hearing protection, matched to the noise you are actually exposed to and to whether you also need to hear speech, cues or machinery while wearing it. Because the service is mobile, that conversation can happen at home.
If you have already had years of exposure, the other half of the answer is a baseline. A hearing assessment tells you where you stand now, so future changes are measurable rather than guessed at. For workplaces, Ears To You also provides mobile on-site screening across NSW.
To book an assessment or discuss hearing protection in Sydney, call 02 7900 5551.
Key facts
- Noise induced hearing loss is a permanent hearing loss caused by exposure to excessively loud sounds.
- Excessive noise is considered to be greater than 85dB over 8 hours.
- Noise induced hearing loss can potentially be prevented with appropriate hearing protection.
- Groups repeatedly exposed to excessive noise include construction workers, airport workers, factory workers and musicians.
- Ears To You provides advice and solutions for preventative measures and appropriate hearing protection, plus mobile on-site workplace screening across NSW.
Frequently asked questions
Can noise induced hearing loss be reversed?
No. It is a permanent hearing loss. However, it can potentially be prevented with appropriate hearing protection.
How loud is too loud?
Excessive noise is considered to be greater than 85dB over 8 hours. As a rule of thumb, if you have to raise your voice to be heard at arm’s length, the environment is worth protecting against.
Who is most at risk of noise induced hearing loss?
People repeatedly exposed to excessive noise through their careers, including those working on construction sites, at airports, in factories, and musicians.
Are custom earplugs better than foam ones?
Foam plugs work when worn, but they muffle speech and warning sounds, so they often get removed. Custom options are more comfortable and, for musicians, reduce level while preserving the balance of the sound.
Should I get a hearing test if I work in noise?
Yes. A baseline assessment establishes where your hearing sits now so any deterioration can be measured. Ears To You also provides mobile on-site workplace screening across NSW.
Book an assessment or call 02 7900 5551.