Have you checked the volume?
In Australia 2 in every 1000 school aged children are diagnosed with some form of hearing loss. Each year 1300 – 1500 children under 17 years are fitted with hearing aids for the first time.
Around 5% of adults aged 45-54 have a disabling hearing loss. This rate increases with age; 10% for adults ages 55-64, 22% for those aged 65-74 and 55% for those 75 and older.
| You can listen to sounds at 70 decibels (dB) or lower for as long as you want.
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| Sounds at 85 dB can lead to hearing loss if you listen to them for more than 8 hours at a time.
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| Sounds over 85 dB can damage your hearing faster. The safe listening time is cut in half for every 3-dB rise in noise levels over 85 dB
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Below are some examples of everyday noises that we are exposed to:
- Gaming headphones 100 dB or more
- Air pods (earbuds) 100 dB or more
- Lawn mower 70 dB
- Ride on mower 95dB
- Vacuum cleaner 60 dB
- Chainsaw 104 dB
- Circular saw 106 dB
- Standard drum kit 90 – 130 dB
- Acoustic guitar 75 dB
- Electric guitar with 20-watt amp 100 dB
- Electric guitar with 40-watt amp 106 dB
- Average night club 106 dB
- Live music concert 95 – 110 dB
- Motorbike 94 – 116 dB
- Cough 70 – 90 dB
- Normal conversation 60 dB
- Taking a shower 70 dB
- Toilet flushing 75 dB
- Breathing 10 dB
- Motor car at 60km standing on pavement 77 dB
- Bird calls 40 dB
- Food blender 88 dB
- Shouting 85 dB or more
Make sure that you check the levels of your headphones or earbuds to make sure they are within a safe limit. Most earbuds linked to your mobile phone allow you to check the dB level.
Ensure that you wear hearing protection when using any power tools or playing instruments.
There are many free apps you can download to monitor dB levels around you.
Don’t act when it’s too late. Protect your hearing today!
Hearsmart, 321 Main Street, Lilydale – 1300 787 792