Hearing Loss
Hearing loss is more common than you might think. Interestingly, due to recreational and environmental noise, hearing loss is occurring at younger and younger ages. Take a look at the noise levels you might be exposed to on a daily base.
Sound levels of common noises
| Decibels | Noise source |
| Safe Range | |
| 30 | Whisper |
| 60 | Normal Conversation |
| 80 | Heavy Traffic , Garbage Disposal |
| Risk Range | |
| 85 to 90 | Motorcycle, snowmobile, lawn mower |
| 90 | Belt sander, tractor |
| 95 to 105 | Hand drill, bulldozer, impact wrench |
| 110 | Chain saw, jack hammer |
| Injury Range | |
| 120 | Ambulance siren |
| 140 | Jet engine at takeoff |
| 165 | Shotgun blast |
| 180 | Rocket launch |
Maximum job-noise exposure allowed by law
| Sound level, decibels | Duration, daily |
| 90 | 8 hours |
| 92 | 6 hours |
| 95 | 4 hours |
| 97 | 3 hours |
| 100 | 2 hours |
| 102 | 1.5 hours |
| 105 | 1 hour |
| 110 | 30 minutes |
| 115 | 15 minutes |
# 1. People seem to be mumbling.
# 2. You have to strain to hear when someone talks or whispers.
# 3. You need to watch a speaker’s lips more closely to follow the conversation.
# 4. You find it hard to hear clearly on the telephone.
# 5. It’s hard to hear in noisy environments like a restaurant or a car.
# 6. Family, friends, or colleagues mention that they often have to repeat themselves.
Sources: Sound Advice, Issue 5, Vol.1
Demographics:
- 28 million Americans are hearing-impaired, and an estimated 500 million experience hearing loss worldwide.
- In the U.S., one out of twelve 30-year-olds is already hearing-impaired and one in eight 50-year-olds suffer from hearing loss.
- After President Bill Clinton was fitted for hearing instruments, more than 1 million other baby boomers identified themselves as experiencing hearing loss.
- There are more baby boomers aged 45-64 with a hearing loss (10 million) than there are people over the age of 65 with a hearing loss (9 million).
- More than a third of all hearing loss is attributed to noise: loud music, loud workplaces, loud recreational equipment.
- Thanks to the above, we’re all losing our hearing at a younger age than we were 30 years ago.
- Of the 10 million Americans aged 45 to 64 who have a hearing loss, 6 out of 7 do not yet benefit from wearing hearing instruments.
Hearing Loss Facts:
- Hearing loss is second only to arthritis as the most common issue for older adults.
- Only about 10% of hearing losses are helped by surgery or other medical treatment.
- 90% of hearing losses can be treated with the use of hearing instruments.
- Only 16% of physicians routinely screen for hearing loss.
90% of hearing losses can be treated with the use of hearing aids.
