Health concerns are abundant and the media tends to inundate us with advice on health and wellness such as weight loss, nutrition and exercise. One area that they seem to neglect is how to protect our hearing. Our ears are abused on a daily basis and most of us experience some amount of hearing loss, even as early as our teens and twenties. Children are very susceptible to hearing loss.

When do you need to protect your ears with earplugs?  Noise at 85 decibels or higher can cause hearing damage, sometimes permanently. What sounds are you exposed to on a regular basis and for how long?

If you love music, chances are you go dancing or to concerts. Blaring music at either a club or a concert arena (especially if you get the good seats!) can cause hearing damage in less than 30 seconds at 115 decibels. You can purchase inexpensive earplugs or invest in custom earplugs if you are a professional or an avid concert/club attendee. Only the damaging sounds are filtered, so your hearing is protected, but the music still sounds fantastic!

You can damage your hearing in as little as 15 minutes after continuous exposure to 100 decibels. Your iPod set at volume level 5 can produce 100 decibels. If you listen to your tunes regularly, you might consider purchasing high-end earphones that protect your hearing while accentuating the music to recording studio quality.

How about the workplace? Do you work in a factory? How about an office? Though we tend to think of noisy machinery as being the only need for earplugs, even an office setting can produce moderate hearing damage, or at the very least, distraction from your work.

In an industrial setting, noise levels can reach more than 100 decibels. Employers are to provide earplugs for employees and make sure that they are compliant.

Even the low hum of busy city traffic that you might hear out your office or bedroom window can cause hearing damage when you are exposed to it for 8 hours a day. Background noises in an office can be distracting. For better concentration and a more peaceful workday, you can purchase inexpensive earplugs that are soft, safe and comfortable.

Think about all the things you do at home, work or at play that are noisy. Are they damaging? Remember that hearing damage can occur at 85 decibels.

Lawn mower = 95 decibels
Leaf blower = 115 decibels
Cinema = 94 decibels
Children’s Toys = (up to) 150 decibels (Check out these tot-sized ear muffs in pink or green)
Sporting event = 127 decibels
Health club = 120 decibels (And you thought only your wicked personal trainer was dangerous!)

Cheers!

Meghan