How to Prevent Ear Damage From Loud Noises

Normal and noise damaged cells

Sounds of any type can cause permanent damage to the ears if they become too loud. Whether it is music or artillery noise, anything above 85 decibels (dB) will destroy the delicate structures of the ear and cause hearing loss. The damage can occur instantaneously or over several hours of unprotected exposure. Be careful: Once your hearing is lost, it may never come back.
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Instructions

1. Have your ears checked by a professional. If you have a tendency for earwax buildup it is crucial to have your ears checked and cleaned by your family doctor or primary care physician. Otherwise, there is a great risk that earwax will get impacted deep in the ear canal with the use of earplugs. Deeply impacted earwax is harmful to the ear and very painful to remove.

2. Decide what kind of activity you will be doing. Any sound at 75 dB or less is not dangerous to the ears and hearing. Look at the chart compiled by the League for the Hard of Hearing to gauge the loudness of the sounds you will be exposed to (see Resources below).

3. 

   Consider how long you will be exposed. Look at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) chart of loudness and exposure time for more information (see Resources below). According to the NIOSH, repeated exposure to 85 dB of noise without ear protection for more than 8 hours will cause hearing loss. For every 3 dB louder, it takes half the time for damage to occur.

4. 

   Select your type of ear protection. General ear protection devices are good for power tools, construction equipment, woodworking and other continuous noises. For firearms you should use ear protection specifically designed for shooting because general ear protection is not as effective. You should use double protection when possible. General ear protection for musicians is adequate, though the music may not sound right. Special ear protection for musicians preserves the sound quality and provides protection.

5. 

   Choose the amount of noise reduction. Check the chart of Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) recommendations for common equipment (see Resources below). All ear protection devices are rated for attenuation or noise reduction. Higher NRRs give more protection. Ear plugs have an NRR up to 25 or 30 dB. Ear muffs have an NRR up to 35.

6. Decide which of the three styles of ear protection devices you want. Test foam earplugs and earmuffs to see which gives the best seal and is the most comfortable, or get custom-made earplugs if they fit your budget. They are the most comfortable of all earplugs because they are molded to the size and shape of your ears, and are made for all types of noise.

Tips & Warnings

• A good rule of thumb is to use ear protection with enough noise reduction so that the exposure level at the ear is as close to 85 dB as possible. For example, if you use a chainsaw that is 110 dB loud, you need ear protection with NRR 30. Combining deeply fitting earplugs with earmuffs gives the most ear protection. To get custom ear protection you will need to have ear impressions taken by an audiologist. Ear protection can be purchased online, at hardware stores, musical instrument stores and firearm shops.

• It is crucial that your earplugs and earmuffs completely seal your ears. The slightest leak will allow damaging noise into your ears.

Resources

• Check noise levels on the chart by the League for the Hard of Hearing.
• Gauge loudness and exposure time on the NIOSH chart.
• Refer to the NRR recommendations for common equipment.