Protecting Your Hearing at Home
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, painless and preventable. It builds up over years from loud lawn mowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, power tools, concerts, headphones and fireworks. You may not notice until conversation becomes hard to follow. Simple protection and habits keep your hearing for life.
- Homeowners
- DIYers
- Parents & Kids
- Hunters & Shooters
- Music Lovers
How loud is too loud?
- Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Every 10 dB increase is roughly twice as loud, and risk rises quickly.
- Long exposure to sounds at or above about 85 dB (a safe-limit used by NIOSH for 8 hours) can damage hearing. Louder sounds cause damage faster: at about 100 dB, damage can begin in 15 minutes.
- Sudden extremely loud sounds (over about 120 to 140 dB) such as gunshots, fireworks and explosions can damage hearing instantly.
| Source (approximate) | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Normal conversation | 60 dB |
| Vacuum cleaner, garbage disposal | 70 to 80 dB |
| Lawn mower, blender, power tools (some) | 85 to 95 dB |
| Leaf blower, string trimmer, circular saw | 90 to 105 dB |
| Chainsaw, rock concert, motorcycle, jackhammer | 100 to 115 dB |
| Fireworks and firearms (close by) | 140 to 165 dB peak |
Levels vary by machine and distance. If you must raise your voice to talk to someone an arm's length away, the noise is probably over 85 dB. See Noise.
Protect yourself
- Wear hearing protection with loud tools and equipment: foam or flanged earplugs, or earmuffs that seal over your ears. Combining plugs and muffs gives more protection for very loud sounds such as chainsaws and shooting.
- Look at the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) on the package. Real-world protection is usually less than the label. See Hearing Protection Fit Testing.
- Insert plugs correctly: roll foam plugs, pull the ear up and back, insert deeply and hold until they expand. Muffs must seal around the ears with no hair or glasses arms breaking the seal.
- Buy quieter tools when possible (look for lower dB ratings, electric or battery mowers and blowers).
- Take breaks from noisy work, limit time and keep distance from loud equipment.
- Turn down headphones and earbuds: keep volume to about 60 percent and limit use, or use the device's safe-listening limits. Choose noise-canceling headphones so you don't need to turn up the volume.
- Use hearing protection at concerts, sports events, motorsports, fireworks and shooting ranges. Leave fireworks to professionals. See Fireworks.
Children
- Kids' ears are just as vulnerable. Use child-size earmuffs at loud events and when near equipment, and keep young children away from mowers and fireworks.
- Limit toy volume and teach kids safe headphone habits.
Warning signs and testing
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) after noise, muffled hearing or fullness in the ears that lasts hours or days.
- Trouble following conversation in noise, turning up the TV, or asking people to repeat themselves.
- See a doctor or audiologist for a hearing test, especially if you do noisy work or hobbies. Early detection helps. See Audiograms & Hearing Tests.
- Sudden hearing loss is a medical emergency; get care promptly.
Home hearing checklist
- I wear plugs or muffs for mowers, blowers, saws and shooting
- Plugs are inserted deeply and muffs seal around my ears
- I keep headphone volume low and use noise-canceling when possible
- My children have child-size protection at loud events
- I get a hearing test if I have ringing or trouble hearing
Standards & references
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