• Login
  • Contact
  • COVID-19
  • Share
  • Facebook
  • Vimeo
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
MedcorMedcorMedcorMedcor
  • About
    • Medcor Health Navigation
    • Leadership
    • Wellness
    • Mission, Vision and Values
  • Services
    • Onsite Clinic
    • Telehealth
    • Safety
    • Support Services
  • Resources
    • Health Tips
    • Insights
    • Technology
  • Careers
    • Culture
    • Equal Employment and Diversity

What Hurts Your Hearing

    Home Health Tips What Hurts Your Hearing
    Next Previous
    What Hurts Your Hearing

    What Hurts Your Hearing

    By Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs | Comments are Closed | 20 May, 2020 0

    Did you know that hearing loss is the third most common chronic health problem in the U.S., following hypertension and arthritis, and is one of the most common work-related injuries? Hearing loss can disrupt the normal activities of daily life, decrease the overall quality of life, and pose safety risks at home and at work.

    What causes hearing loss?

    Hearing loss occurs when the small hairs in the inner ear that pick up sound become damaged. Once the small hairs in the inner ear are damaged, there is no way to reverse the damage and hearing loss.

    The inner ear damage that leads to hearing loss can happen in a variety of ways, but the most common cause of hearing loss is exposure to too much intense noise over too much time (85 decibels or greater for 8 or more hours). Common noises in your daily living environment can be damaging, such as city traffic, lawnmowers, power tools, sporting events, and even the volume of your personal listening device. Work environments can also pose hearing hazards to workers. Industries commonly at risk for occupational hearing loss include agriculture, construction, manufacturing, mining, entertainment, aerospace, and emergency medical and fire services. In the United States, about 40 million adults (ages 20 – 69) have hearing loss due to noise.

    Hearing loss can also be caused by medicines and chemicals that are ototoxicants. Examples of ototoxic chemicals include solvents (e.g., styrene), metals and compounds (e.g., lead, mercury compounds, organic tin compounds), asphyxiants (e.g., carbon monoxide), nitriles (e.g., acrylonitrile), and medications containing antineoplastic agents.

    About a quarter of people who report excellent-to-good hearing already have some damage to their hearing. Men and people over the age of 40 are at a greater risk of experiencing hearing loss.

    What is a dangerous noise level?

    Sound is measured in decibels; the higher the number of decibels, the more intense the sound.

    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established a recommended limit for exposure to sound over an 8-hour time period. The Recommended Exposure Limit set by NIOSH is 85 decibels over an 8-hour time period. This means that noise exposure at or above 85 decibels over an 8-hour time period is considered hazardous for your hearing.

    The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has established legal limits for noise exposure. OSHA’s permissible exposure level is 90 decibels over an 8-hour workday. The permissible exposure level will vary based on the hours worked in a day and the noise exposure levels.

    How can I prevent hearing loss?

    Earplugs and earmuffs have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). These ratings are used by companies along with NIOSH and OSHA recommendations to determine which hearing protection should be used in a particular work environment. If you are using hearing protection for noisy activities outside of work, check with your healthcare provider to get recommendations on what sort of hearing protection is best for you.

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Preventing Hearing Loss,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: NIOSH Sound Level Meter App,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Guidance and Regulations,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Hearing Loss Prevention Programs,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Occupational Hearing Loss (OHL) Surveillance: Facts and Definitions,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Too Loud! For Too Long!” 

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “What If I Already Have Hearing Loss?”

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “What Noises Cause Hearing Loss?” 

    Authored by: Mayuri Bhakta

    The best way to prevent noise-related hearing loss is to protect your ears.

    • Avoid noisy areas.
    • Always use earplugs, earmuffs, or noise-canceling headphones when in noisy areas.
    • Keep the volume down when using stereo systems, headphones, or earbuds.
    • Always use hearing protection when using loud motorized equipment.
    • Always use hearing protection when working in noisy areas: Follow the rules outlined in your company’s hearing conservation program. A hearing conservation program is a program developed by companies to help prevent hearing loss from work-related noise exposure. See OSHA’s resource on creating a hearing conservation program.

    NIOSH developed a sound level meter app that can be used to determine noise levels. This app was developed and tested by acoustic engineers and hearing loss experts and can provide valuable information such as what noise levels are dangerous, how to use hearing protection, how to prevent hearing loss, and how to test noise levels in an area. You can visit the CDC NIOSH page for more information on the app.

    Earplugs and earmuffs have a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). These ratings are used by companies along with NIOSH and OSHA recommendations to determine which hearing protection should be used in a particular work environment. If you are using hearing protection for noisy activities outside of work, check with your healthcare provider to get recommendations on what sort of hearing protection is best for you.

    This article is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition or to give medical advice. Always consult your primary care provider for healthcare instructions. External links are provided as references and do not indicate an endorsement by Medcor. External links are subject to other sites’ terms of use and privacy policies.

    References

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Preventing Hearing Loss,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: NIOSH Sound Level Meter App,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Guidance and Regulations,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention: Hearing Loss Prevention Programs,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Occupational Hearing Loss (OHL) Surveillance: Facts and Definitions,” The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Too Loud! For Too Long!” 

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “What If I Already Have Hearing Loss?”

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “What Noises Cause Hearing Loss?” 

    [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

    Authored by: Mayuri Bhakta

    Share
    ears, hearing, hearing loss

    Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    More posts by Mayuri Bhakta, FNP-BC, Director of Clinical Affairs

    Related Post

    • Smart Snacking

      By Danielle Olipra

      Everybody snacks, and most people could tell you what their favorite snack is without a thought. Snacks can be good for you, but many of us are guilty of nibbling mindlessly on junk food andRead more

      Share

    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular

      By Danielle Olipra

      High-Intensity Interval Training or HIIT has become a popular workout trend—why is it so popular? Keep reading about HIIT and try a new routine to change up your workout. Convenience of HIIT HIIT training appealsRead more

      Share

    • Stretching

      By Danielle Olipra

      Physical activity can help you feel and function better and stretching your muscles can also help improve your overall health. Read about the benefits of regular stretches and commit to a routine that could improveRead more

      Share

    • Caffeine Withdrawal

      By Ilia Jbankov, FNP-BC, Medcor Provider

      Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance found in over 60 varieties of plants, the most common being coffee beans, cocoa, tea leaves and kola nuts. The medicinal and energizing effects of these plants were knownRead more

      Share

    • Seasonal Affective Disorder

      By Danielle Olipra

      Seasonal Affective Disorder plagues an estimated 10 million Americans every year. Keep reading to understand seasonal depression and utilize Medcor’s Guiding Health Principles to take care of your mental health this winter. What is SeasonalRead more

      Share

    NextPrevious

    Health Tip Updates

    Recent Posts

    • Smart Snacking
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
    • Stretching
    • Caffeine Withdrawal
    • Seasonal Affective Disorder
    Medcor
    Medcor provides health navigation through integrated services that include onsite and mobile clinics, injury triage, telemedicine, and safety staffing and training. Medcor helps employers and their employees navigate the complexities of healthcare to achieve better physical and financial outcomes across the United States and Canada.

    Recent Health Tips

    • Smart Snacking
      February 1, 2023
    • HIIT And Why It Is Popular
      January 25, 2023
    • Stretching
      January 18, 2023

    Insights

    • onsite-healthWhat is an Occupational Health Clinic?
      September 29, 2022
    • COVID Compliance OfficersCOVID-19 Workplace Safety
      September 14, 2022
    • Onsite HealthcareWhat is Onsite Healthcare?
      September 6, 2022

    Contact Us

    HQ Location
    4805 Prime Parkway
    McHenry, IL 60050

    Postal Address
    P.O. Box 550
    McHenry, IL 60051

    Call

    HQ: (815) 363-9500
    Sales: (888) 295-5180
    Media: (815) 759-5442

    Email

    Sales: sales@medcor.com
    Job Inquiry: recruiters@medcor.com
    Media: media@medcor.com
    Website Manager: websupport@medcor.com
    Copyright © 2023 Medcor, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Legal Notices: Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, Terms of Use & Privacy | English Spanish. Healthcare Privacy Policy | English Spanish
    • About
      • Medcor Health Navigation
      • Leadership
      • Wellness
        • Eat Real Food
        • Get Your Sleep
        • Handle Your Hygiene
        • Mind Your Happiness
      • Mission, Vision and Values
    • Services
      • Onsite Clinic
      • Telehealth
      • Safety
      • Health Security
    • Resources
      • Health Tips
      • Insights
      • Technology
    • Contact
      • Existing Customer Services
      • General Information
      • Job Inquiries
      • Media & Public Relations
    • Careers
      • Culture
      • Equal Employment and Diversity
      • Interview and Hiring Process FAQs
      • Apply
    • COVID-19
    Medcor