Damage Adds Up Over Time

The consequences of failing to protect our hearing may take years to show up. Prolonged exposure to noise exceeding 85 decibels (dB), about the same loudness as a vacuum cleaner, can cause permanent hearing loss by damaging the microscopic hair cells inside your ears.

The high frequencies are first to go. You might not be able to hear cymbals or violins clearly on a stereo and find yourself boosting the treble control to try to restore the sparkle.

If that were the only result of hearing loss, most people could cope well, but it gets worse. Words begin sounding muffled.

Hearing Protection: What Are the Choices?

Earmuffs: These have a hard outer shell and sound absorbent cuffs to block out noise, and are a popular choice of hearing protection both on and off the job.

Remember that noise is noise. Prolonged exposure to sound levels exceeding 85 dB can cause permanent damage. Your ears don’t care whether the noise is being generated by a chainsaw or a chamber orchestra. Without hearing protection, your quality of life can suffer terribly over time.