Ordinary Ambient Noise: A Pervasive Danger to Your Hearing

You know the drill: Protect your ears from loud sounds. But how much noise is too much? Safe sound levels may be far lower than you think.

Writing in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, Daniel Fink, M.D., contends that the widely used 85-decibel safe noise exposure level is unsafe for the public and doesn’t protect all exposed workers from hearing loss either.

Dr. Fink suffers from tinnitus and hyperacusis, which developed after a one-time noise exposure. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of Quiet Communities, a nonprofit that "promotes quiet as a valuable natural resource and works to reduce harmful noise and related pollution."

Why it matters

• Current workplace noise limits and the EPA's recommended 70 dB limit for 24-hour public exposure still allow an unacceptable risk of hearing loss over time.

• Even people with normal hearing tests can suffer hidden cochlear damage, impairing speech comprehension.

Noise-induced hearing loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is caused mainly by cumulative noise over a lifetime.

• NIHL is a public health crisis in the U.S. Around 25% of U.S. adults have NIHL, with half having no significant occupational exposure.

• 90% of tinnitus cases are accompanied by some degree of NIHL.

• Preventing NIHL can also help prevent tinnitus and hyperacusis

Sidebar: Hyperacusis?

Hyperacusis is a hearing disorder characterized by an increased sensitivity to sound and a low tolerance for environmental noise.

• Hyperacusis is classified into four subtypes: loudness, pain, annoyance, and fear.

• People with hyperacusis often find ordinary noises too loud and loud noises uncomfortable or painful.

• The most common cause of hyperacusis is damage to the inner ear from aging or exposure to loud noise.

Symptoms include:

• Increased perception of the loudness of sounds

• Pain in response to sounds

• Annoyance in response to sounds (synonymous with misophonia)

• Fear in response to sounds

The big picture

The current workplace noise limits and the EPA's recommended 70 dB limit for 24-hour public exposure still allow an unacceptable risk of hearing loss over time. Even people with normal hearing tests can suffer hidden cochlear damage, impairing speech comprehension.

The backstory: Hearing loss plagued certain occupations like blacksmithing before industrial-level noise emerged. But it's only recently been recognized as a public health threat beyond the workplace.

Go deeper

Based on historical data, the safe level to prevent permanent noise-induced hearing loss is likely only 55-60 dBA for 24-hour average exposure.

• This radically lower sound level aligns with research on temporary hearing shifts after noise exposure.

A difficult truth: Guidelines assume hearing damage only occurs from significant industrial noise. But any sounds louder than normal conversation levels may cause permanent inner ear injury over decades of exposure.

Brief impulse sounds like explosions can also disproportionately damage hearing. Average noise measurements may obscure the harm from these intense, non-continuous exposures.

The challenge

Unlike sunburns, which visibly damage the skin, we can't see ambient and recreational sound slowly eroding our cochlear hair cells.

• Greater attention needs to be paid to the disproportionate impact of impulse/impact noise exposures in causing NIHL

• Public awareness of the actual safe noise level is needed to motivate reducing noise exposures from occupational and non-occupational sources

Protect your ears from permanent damage

The best ways to protect your ears from loud noise are:

1. When exposed to loud noises, wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs. Earplugs, foam or custom-fitted, block harmful sound levels.

2. Avoid or limit your exposure to loud noise, such as concerts, sporting events, construction sites, and using loud machinery.

3. Move away from the loudest sound sources, like speakers, sirens, or fireworks, to create more distance and reduce exposure.

4. Give your ears time to recover after exposure to loud noises by taking breaks and letting your hearing rest.

5. Monitor the volume when listening to music or other audio through headphones or speakers, and keep it at a comfortable level that doesn't require straining to hear.

6. Get regular hearing screenings to establish a baseline and monitor any changes in your hearing over time.

The key is to be proactive about protecting your hearing by using the right protective gear and limiting exposure to dangerously loud sounds. Taking these steps can help prevent permanent, irreversible noise-induced hearing loss.

Concerned about noise-induced hearing loss

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Go deeper: Recognizing the comprehensive impact of noise →