Do you work a noisy job? You may not even realize it. Professions such as mechanics, manufacturing and construction have a reputation for being loud but there are so many workplaces which are loud enough to damage your hearing, which slip under the radar. This is in part because it’s not just the level of sound which can cause lifelong damage to your hearing but the length of exposure. This means that the typically eight hour or longer work week is the perfect prescription for noise induced hearing loss, as you clock into dangerous levels of noise, day after day, week after week and year after year!
Occupational Hearing Hazards
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that roughly 22 million American workers are working in hazardously noisy conditions every year. While OSHA mandates that employers supply hearing protection to workers in noisy conditions at no out of pocket cost, it’s up to employees to be sure to make use of protective hearing equipment and wear it correctly. One mistake is often all it takes to damage hearing.
Understanding Noise Induced Hearing Loss
We collect sound with our ears but hearing and comprehension of sound occurs within our brain. Sound is transferred from our inner ears to our brain via tiny hairlike cells called stereocilia. Stereocilia in fact are the sole delivery system from our ears to the brain, causing irreversible hearing loss if damaged. As vibrations from sound become louder, they often become so loud they can cause stereocilia to shatter against the cell walls which hold them.
How Loud is Too Loud?
Any sound above a safe listening threshold can cause hearing loss. The loudness or volume of sound is measured in decibels (dBA) and any sound above 85 dBA for eight hours or more can cause noise induced hearing loss. As the decibels rise the time it takes for damage to occur gets shorter. In fact, for every increase of three the exposure time is cut in half. For instance, at 88 dBA it only takes four hours for damage to occur and at 91 dBA, damage occurs in two hours. Meanwhile a gunshot or explosion can reach 140 dBA—loud enough to damage your hearing instantaneously. This is why professions such as law enforcement or veterans are at such a high rate for hearing loss.
Shift Work and Hearing Loss
The United States work shift is typically eight hours or more and is the perfect storm for noise induced hearing loss. In a 2019 study including over 11,000 US shift workers, researchers found that those who worked the greatest number of hours per shift, and had the highest exposure to noise, as well as the highest risk of hearing loss.
Risk Factors in the Workplace
The biggest risk to your ears are sounds which are constant. If you work in a facility with the following elements, then it’s likely your working environment is loud enough to put your hearing at risk. This includes:
- Heavy machinery
- Motors and generators
- Ventilation equipment
- Power tools such as jackhammers, saws, and drills
- Workplace transport
Even if these factors are not present in your place of work keep in mind that while one conversation equals around 60 dBA, if you work in a crowded place with multiple conversations occurring at once then it could mean that the decibels could soar past 85 dBA and more. In these instances, keep in mind that they could be more dangerous as there may be less focus on the hearing risks and less access to proper protective hearing protection.
Is it Time to Treat Your Hearing Loss?
If you’ve been working the same job for years, it may be nice to have job security, but a risk to your health is never worth it. Know the average decibel level at your job and if It’s above a safe listening threshold, be sure to wear hearing protection religiously. If you suspect that you already have some hearing loss, don’t delay in scheduling a hearing exam with us today. While hearing loss is permanent, it can and should be treated as soon as possible. To find out more and to schedule a hearing exam with us, contact us now!