Hearing Protection

Exposures of ≤85 dB over 8 hours
would be safe without hearing protection.
However, note that for every 3 dB increase above 85 dB,
the safe exposure time without hearing protection is halved.

Too Loud, Too Long

The primary account of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is that cochlear hair cells are damaged (Liberman and Dodds, 1984) , causing a loss of sensitivity to quiet sounds.  Excessive noise, often from exposure to loud sound and loud music and for a prolong duration time can lead to short-term hearing or permanent hearing loss.
Sound stimulates tiny hair-like cells in your inner-ear, which send messages to your brain. Noise-induced hearing loss occurs because excessive noise damages those delicate hair cells. Noise-induced hearing loss can’t be cured and it worsens as noise exposure continues.

WSH regulation (2011) set a standard of an equivalent SPL of 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour work day exposure and has established safety hearing conservation protocols for workplaces including routine hearing test and wearing noise protection ear/head sets.

• 70% of people exposed to loud noise never or seldom wear hearing protection# for various reasons including discomfort, occlusions, price etc.

Do ask us for the Phonak Serenity ChoiceTM for hearing protection.
It cancels noise and loud sounds, lets your ears breathe and keeps relevant sound and speech.


#Latest : A new study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that over half of noise-exposed workers didn’t use hearing protection “always” or “usually when exposed to hazardous occupational noise, the organization announced. Hearing protection device (HPD) non-use was only measured in workers who reported exposure to noise on the job. It was published online October 1, 2021 in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine