Spending a long time around loud noise can negatively impact your hearing, particularly when sound volume goes past safe limits. Protecting your ears is essential—not only for warding off hearing loss but also for keeping focus in noisy settings. Therefore, what steps should you take to choose the ideal hearing protection level matched to your requirements?

The importance of knowing noise levels and impacts

When evaluating the effect of noise, the duration of exposure is as critical as the sound’s volume. We use dB—a unit that quantifies sound volume—as the primary metric for understanding noise levels. When sound levels hit 85 dB or higher, they can begin to damage your hearing, chiefly with extended exposure.

As a frame of context, 85 dB is roughly the same loudness as the sound of city traffic perceived from within a car. Though this volume might not seem excessive, spending eight hours in it non-stop can lead to hearing impairment. The safe period of exposure becomes brief when the sound is more intense:

• Exposure to 90 dB (the sound of a Lawnmower) for more than 4 hours could be damaging.
• Restrict your exposure to 100 dB (Power tools) to less than 1 hour.
• Damage is possible after only 15 minutes at the 110 dB level (Leaf blower).
• 120 dB (Rock concert): Any exposure at this level can damage your hearing.
• Immediate pain and damage are possible at 140 dB (Jet engine).

Identifying harmful noise levels

It is crucial to use hearing protection if your frequent exposure is to noise levels above 85 dB. Such protection is most critical in industrial settings, including plants and construction sites, or other places where excessive noise is produced by tools, equipment, or engines.

Beyond the work setting, scenarios like recreational shooting sports, using leaf blowers, or going to concerts are cases where you may gain an advantage from using hearing protection due to the unsafe noise exposure.

Choosing protection based on Noise Reduction Ratings (NRR

Hearing protection performance is quantified using the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) scale. Given in decibels, this figure tells you the degree of sound reduction the protective device is capable of blocking. Higher rating values offer better protection. For instance, earplugs with an NRR of 30 dB can lower an 85 dB noise level to 55 dB, placing you comfortably within safe exposure limits.

When making your decision, take into account the particular noise intensity you are facing and ensure that the protection reduces the sound below the 85 dB limit.

Consistency depends on comfort: why it’s so important

While the NRR is a critical factor, comfort plays an equally significant role in guaranteeing long-term use. If the hearing protection is cumbersome or uncomfortable, you are inclined to remove it, which results in your hearing vulnerable against harmful noise.

Choosing well-fitting hearing protection results in consistent wear, thus lowering the threat that you will be exposed to noise intermittently. Consider if, for example, your earmuffs are too heavy or ill-fitting, you could remove them from time to time, leaving your ears exposed to harmful noise.

Different choices of hearing protection available

Hearing protection is available in several types, each with its pros and cons:

• Offering superior noise reduction, Foam Earplugs are placed inside the ear canal. While they are lightweight and disposable, some wearers may experience discomfort.
• Pre-Molded Earplugs: These rest just outside the ear canal and are reusable, making them a more sustainable option. They’re easier to insert and remove compared to foam earplugs.
• Earmuffs enclose the ear completely; they are best for varying noise environments because of their ease of removal and donning. A common disadvantage is that they can feel warm or heavy with continuous wear.

The optimal type of protection to choose is dictated by your own comfort and the needs of the environment you are in. For illustration, workers in construction may prefer the ease of use of earmuffs, while factory employees might opt for earplugs for continuous wear.

Making sure you wear it continuously

To achieve maximum performance, you must select the hearing protection you will wear continuously. Any interruption in use, even for a few minutes, can have permanent effects for your hearing health. It is extremely necessary to select a solution that optimizes between comfort, protection, and convenience for this purpose.

Securing your auditory future

We are always enclosed by noise, yet choosing the appropriate protective gear ensures your ears are safeguarded, allowing you to keep enjoying your acoustic environment.

Reach out to us now to review your potential for noise-related hearing loss and how to most effectively protect your hearing health.