I was so conscious of it being damaged that everyday things that I have done for years started to change, I gave up my job as a dance teacher due to excessive noise in the studio, stopped going to the cinema, stopped going under water, turned the radio down in the car and even started reading more to reduce the effects of constant "life noise" (If you've read my other blogs you will also see how reducing these things helped my everyday fatigue)
After a little bit of research I was truly amazed at how loud these everyday noises were:
- Taking a shower, traffic noise, flushing the loo and vacuuming = 70 decibels
- Food processor, hairdryer, or a passing truck = 80 decibels
- Lawn mower, power drill, loud office environment/phone = 90 decibels
- Nightclub, ambulance siren, live band and driving with the window down = 100 decibels
- Large thunder clap, popping a balloon, and fireworks = 120+ decibels
To put this in to perspective, many of the mobile devices that children use nowadays are 105 decibels on the highest volume, that is 100 times more intense than 85 decibels! The impact of noise can build up over your lifetime, if you are exposed to loud noises on a regular everyday basis, your risk of hearing damage/loss increases over time. The World health organisation recommends no exposure above 120 decibels for children.
If only 1 person turns down the TV, stands back from the speaker in the nightclub, or mutes the iPhone app then iv helped!
Your hearing is precious.
