Summer is in full swing! It’s the season many individuals look forward to each year, and it often means vacations, outdoor activities, gardening, home improvement projects, sporting events, and festivals. One thing many summer activities have in common is dangerously loud sounds. Hearing loss and tinnitus can ruin even the best of summers! In an effort to protect our hearing and to make sure we do all we can to keep our hearing loss to a minimum, we wanted to share a noise chart of average decibel levels of everyday sounds so you know what’s what.
The source for this chart can be found here.
Painful impulse noise—Not safe for any period of time |
150 dBP = fireworks at 3 feet, firecracker, shotgun 140 dBP = firearms |
Painful steady noise—Not safe for any period of time |
130 dBA = jackhammer 120 dBA = jet plane takeoff, siren, pneumatic drill |
Extremely loud—Dangerous to hearing; wear earplugs or earmuffs |
112 dBA = maximum output of some MP3 players, rock concert, chainsaw 106 dBA = gas leaf blower, snowblower 100 dBA = tractor, listening with earphones 94 dBA = hairdryer, kitchen blender, food processor |
Very loud—Dangerous to hearing; wear earplugs or earmuffs |
91 dBA = subway, passing motorcycle, gas mower |
Moderate—Safe listening for any time period |
70 dBA = group conversation, vacuum cleaner, alarm clock 60 dBA = typical conversation, dishwasher, clothes dryer 50 dBA = moderate rainfall 40 dBA = quiet room |
Faint—Safe listening for any time period |
30 dBA = whisper, quiet library |
Just because loud sounds are common in the summer, it doesn’t mean you need to change your routine! Simply being aware of what sounds to steer clear from are helpful in protecting your hearing all year long. If you need more clarity on what sounds to stay away from, need help with your hearing aids, or anything else, give us a call!