18 Everyday Sounds that Can Hurt Your Hearing

18 Everyday Sounds that Can Hurt Your Hearing. Our ears are bombarded by sounds throughout the day and some of it may damage your hearing. Though loud concerts and construction sites can cause tremendous harm to your ears, many everyday sounds can be just as harmful over time. Hearing loss can result from exposure to sounds 85 decibels (dB) and above for extended periods of time, and some common sounds surpass the 85 dB mark. Below are 18 types of everyday sounds that can be painful to your ears.

1. Lawn Mowers (85-90 dB)

Many of us mow our lawns weekly, but the noise emitted from the lawn mower is often loud enough to result in hearing loss. Long exposure to the noise can also result in hearing issues, particularly if it occurs without ear protection.

2. Blenders and Food Processors (85-90 dB)

The blender you use to make your morning smoothie, or the food processor you use to chop veggies, can be harmful when used for extended periods. The noise can be ignored, but these machines can induce hearing stress.

3. Hair Dryers (85-95 dB)

For example, a blow dryer on high emits more than 90 dB, especially when operated near the ears. If you’re exposed to this noise on a regular basis without wearing any ear protection, you can expect to lose some of your ability to hear as you grow older.

4. Vacuum Cleaners (85-90 dB)

Vacuuming is another task around the house that continually exceeds safe noise limits for hearing damage. Vacuuming might not seem like a dangerous job, but when you are doing it regularly, it can take a toll.

5. Power Tools (90-120 dB)

Power tools, whether you’re drilling, sanding or cutting, can produce noise above that safe 85 dB limit. Power tools can cause temporary and permanent hearing loss if used without proper hearing protection.

6. Motorcycles (90-100 dB)

Motorcycle engines, especially when revved, can damage your hearing. Riders and those who sit close to motorbikes should consider wearing earplugs to protect their hearing.

7. City Traffic (85-95 dB)

In any large city in which you live or in which you commute, you’re assaulted with a cacophony of traffic sounds and commotion. Weather, it’s cars, buses or construction, the noise can build over time and permanently damage hearing.

8. Subway Systems (85-95 dB)

Mass transit systems, such as subway trains, produce enough noise to cause hearing damage for people frequently exposed to the sound. Train wheels screeching along and the general din of a crowded subway can damage your hearing in the long run.

9. Party & Concerts (100-120 dB)

Music concerts, clubs and festivals are all about having fun, but loud music and amplified sound can permanently damage your hearing if you’re too close to the speakers. Music shows can clock over 110 dB (higher, if you ask anyone standing next to the speakers) and that will hurt you even if all you do is mosh for a few minutes.

10. Fireworks (120-170 dB)

The loud crack of a firework is probably one of the loudest sounds most people encounter regularly in life, probably the loudest if in a crowd gathering. The A-weighted intensity can exceed 150 dB, well above the protection level of one’s auditory system. Even a short-term exposure can cause permanent hearing loss.

11. Siren Alarms (120-130 dB)

If you live near a street you’re probably used to hearing a siren whip past, but that high-pitched wail can be as loud as 130 dB. Sirens can cause hearing fatigue with prolonged exposure, or long-term hearing degradation.

12. Building Sites (90-120 dB)

If you live near a construction site or you work in one, you hear it all the time: the sound of jackhammers, drills, heavy pieces of machinery that can get pretty loud. Left unprotected, these sounds can damage your hearing fast.

13. Airplanes (85-130 dB)

The noise of airplane engines (which can go louder than 120 dB, particularly during takeoff and touch down) in airports or during flights is deafening. A long period of time within this noise level, particularly in an enclosed space, can damage your ears.

14. Barking Dogs (85-115 dB)

A dog’s bark can be pretty loud, up to 115 dB. If you spend a lot of time around barking dogs, the sound can affect your hearing, particularly if you live in a place with many loud dogs.

15. Alarm Clocks (85-90 dB)

For most, the day begins with a loud alarm clock. 85-90 dB Phones, especially when ringer volume is loud (98-115 dB) and/or pitch tone is high. Planting subjects with excessive noise to wake up to is a way that can lead to hearing problems, over the time.

16. Train Stations (85-100 dB)

Train stations can be quite loud, especially with the trains oncoming and leaving. The sound of train wheels grinding against the tracks in addition to announcements and crowds can cause noise induced hearing loss.

17. Earbuds and Headphones (90-120 decibels)

Listening to music or podcasts on earbuds or headphones at high volumes can also cause hearing loss. Even moderate sound levels when listening or playing with headphones can be dangerous and exceed safe levels. Moreover, the exceeding safe levels can risk permanent hearing loss for long term exposure.

18. Dishwashers (85-90 dB)

Dishwashers are all-too-frequently overlooked…until they’re so loud they interrupt dinner, that is, particularly those high-pressure jet spray models. Hearing loss Repeated exposure to sounds that exceed 85 decibels in an enclosed space can cause hearing loss.

Protecting Your Hearing

You won’t be able to escape all noise in your day-to-day life, however, there are things you can do to help protect your hearing:

Protect Your Ears: When you know you will be in a loud environment, don hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs created for noise prevention.

Turn the Volume Down: Keeping the music at a safe volume (never more than 60% of the maximum volume) when you are wearing earphones or earbuds scream sing faux speakers Forcing your headphones to sound like speakers is all about scale.

Take Time-Outs: Allow your ears regular rest time away from noise to prevent over exposure.

Keep yourself at safe distance: Don’t stay too near very loud sounds (speakers, machines).

Enter Noise-Canceling Headphones: These handy gadgets can cancel out the background noise so you can hear at a lower volume.

Conclusion

​Even sounds that you hear every day can gradually have a negative effect on your hearing. We can’t control every sound around us, but we can and should be vigilant about loud noises, which may damage our hearing well before noise-induced hearing loss becomes evident. Whether it’s wearing ear protection, moderating the volume, or taking time for breaks your hearing is a great investment in enjoying all of life’s sounds tomorrow.