Harmful noise levels can exist anywhere, including inside your own home. Understanding how noise impacts your hearing and recognizing potentially harmful sounds in your environment is the first step toward preventing hearing loss and protecting your hearing health.
How Hearing Loss Works
Hearing loss occurs when the delicate hair cells in the inner ear responsible for transmitting sound signals to the brain become damaged. Unlike other cells in the body, these hair cells do not repair themselves, making hearing loss permanent.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) happens when a person is exposed to sounds that are too loud for too long. It can also occur when a person is too close to a short sound that is too loud. The threshold for hearing damage begins at 85 dB. Prolonged exposure to sounds at or above this level can gradually harm hearing, while brief exposure to noises above 120 dB can cause immediate damage.
Household Noises That Could Be Damaging
There are several common household items that may reach dangerous levels without people realizing. Consider the following areas of your home and the items that may be damaging your hearing.
Kitchen and Cleaning Appliances
- Blender (85-90 dB): Many blenders exceed the safe threshold, especially when used frequently.
- Vacuum cleaner (70-85 dB): Some high-powered vacuums operate at levels close to or above 85 dB.
- Garbage disposal (80-95 dB): Short bursts of high-decibel noise from disposals can add up over time.
Entertainment and Hobbies
- Hair dryer (80-90 dB): When used at close range, a hair dryer can contribute to hearing damage over time.
- Television (75-90 dB): Watching TV at a loud volume, especially in a home theater setup, can lead to gradual hearing loss.
- Headphones or earbuds (85-110 dB): Personal listening devices at maximum volume can reach levels well beyond the safe range.
- Power Tools (90-110 dB): Drills, saws and other tools often operate at hazardous noise levels.
Household Systems and Machinery
- Lawn mower (85-100 dB): Gas-powered lawnmowers reach consistent harmful sound levels.
- Washing machine and dryer (70-90 dB): While not always dangerous, some high-efficiency models can be quite loud.
- Door slams and alarm systems (100-120 dB): Sudden, loud noises like slamming doors or security alarms can contribute to hearing strain.
How to Protect Your Hearing
Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to minimize the risk of hearing damage at home:
- Lower the volume on TVs, music and other entertainment devices.
- Wear hearing protection such as earplugs or noise-canceling headphones when using loud appliances, power tools and lawn mowers.
- Limit exposure to loud noises by stepping away or taking breaks when using loud equipment.
- Keep distance from sources of loud noise whenever possible.
Protecting your hearing while in your own home is about knowledge and mindfulness. Consider hearing protection routines that work best for your lifestyle. To learn more about protecting your hearing or to schedule a hearing evaluation, contact San Francisco Audiology today.