Health A-Z •
Men in the military have an even greater risk of hearing loss than men who work in loud occupations. This is easy to understand when you consider that 85 percent of enlisted personnel are men and that they operate noisy machines every day. Tinnitus, a chronic ringing in the ears, affects up to 10 percent of veterans. Hearing loss affects another six percent.
The Prevalence of Hearing Loss in Men
Even the hobbies men engage in can damage hearing. Hunting, for example, can produce shotgun blasts up to 170 decibels. Riding a motorcycle exposes riders to a decibel level of 95. Most audiologists agree that it’s risky to expose yourself to decibel levels above 85 on a routine basis.
What are Decibels? A sound’s loudness is measured in decibels (dB). Normal conversation is about 60 Lawn mower is about 90
dB
dB
Loud rock concert is about 120
dB
In general, sounds above 85 are harmful, depending on how long and how often you are exposed to them and whether you wear hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs.
Preventing Hearing Loss Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the only type of hearing loss that is preventable, and it is well documented that the use of hearing protection devices work. However, studies show the use of hearing protection devices during recreational activities is quite low for adults.
How Loud is Too Loud? You may be surprised to learn how loud some everyday sounds can be, especially if you are exposed to ones that produce decibels above the harmful level of 85 dB on a continual basis.
NOISE TYPE
AVERAGE DECIBELS
Leaves rustling, soft music or whispering
30
Average noise in home
40
Normal conversation, background noise
60
Office noise, inside car at 60 mph
70
Heavy traffic, noisy restaurant or lawn mower
80-89
Subway, shouted conversation
90-95
ATV or motorcycle
96-100
Chainsaw or leaf blower
106-115
Sports crowd, rock concert or loud symphony
120-129
Stock car races
130
Gun shot, siren at 100 feet
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