{"id":1327,"date":"2020-02-27T12:09:51","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T17:09:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlestonhearing.com\/?p=1327"},"modified":"2020-02-27T12:09:51","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T17:09:51","slug":"hearing-hazards-in-the-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hearingsc.com\/hearing-hazards-in-the-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Hearing Hazards in the Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Most people are aware of the risks of hearing damage from attending a live concert or shooting a firearm, but many do not know that they could be damaging their hearing in their very own home. Many household tools and appliances exceed 85 dB \u2013 the threshold of volume that is considered safe.<\/p>\n

How Loud Is Too Loud?<\/h2>\n

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OSHA warns that any sound over 85 dB can cause irreversible hearing damage after just 15 minutes of exposure. For reference, this is about the volume of highway traffic or a busy caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

According to the National Institutes for Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 24 percent of Americans under age 70<\/a> have some level of noise-induced hearing loss.<\/p>\n

Noise-induced hearing loss<\/a> occurs when loud sounds damage the stereocilia of the inner ear. Stereocilia are tiny hair cells that convert soundwaves to electrical energy. This energy is transmitted to the brain by the auditory nerve in order to be interpreted as sound. Once these hair cells are damaged, they do not regenerate, and permanent sensorineural hearing loss is the result.<\/p>\n

Noise Hazards at Home<\/h2>\n

A good rule of thumb is if you are unable to carry on a conversation at a normal volume over a sound source, the noise is too loud and could cause damage.<\/p>\n

There are certain tools that come to mind as being too loud, like a leaf blower, lawn mower or table saw, but even some of the appliances inside your home can pose a hazard. See below a list of household appliances and their decibel output<\/a>:<\/p>\n