There is no doubt that the world is full of melodious sounds. Think about the birds chirping in the morning, waves rolling onto shore, wind hissing through vegetation, and that crackling summertime fire. Unfortunately, sound is also one of the major causes of hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is common, and therefore, it is recommended to measure each sound in decibel units and weigh it to ensure that it is physically healthy for the human ear.

Meaning of decibels

In simple terms, decibels (dB) are units used to measure how loud a sound is and the risk of damaging hearing. When a sound is measured, it is then weighted to represent the sounds that the human ear can comfortably hear (dBA).

Decibels are represented in a chart or scale and the higher the decibel number the louder the sound.

Measuring Decibels

A decibel chart shows the intensity levels of sounds that we encounter in our daily routine. The range of sounds measured on the decibel scale is usually from 0 dB (the quietest sound) to 140 dB (the loudest sound/threshold of pain).

You can measure decibels of sounds around you using several methods, including:

·       Online decibel meter

·       Decibel scale

·       Decibel meter app (most smartphones support these apps)

·       Decibel rating chart

·       Hearing loss decibel chart and so on.

Both sound intensity (measured in dB) and sound frequency (measured in hertz (Hz)) affect hearing.

When sound's decibel level increases by 10, its intensity increases by 10x. However, the decibel chart is logarithmic rather than linear. This means that a 10-decibel sound is 10x more intense compared to a 0-dB sound, a 20-dB sound is 100x more intense, and a 30-dB sound is 100x more intense.

Most specialized organizations such as NIOSH consider sounds above 85 dB to be harmful to human hearing. This means any sound about this range can lead to hearing loss or hearing damage depending on the extent of your exposure.

Decibel Scale of Common Sounds

·       140 dB – Fireworks, custom car stereos at full volume, or gunshots. Avoid these sounds as much as possible or use hearing protection.

·       130 dB – Ambulances or jackhammers. These sounds can be uncomfortable and dangerous to your hearing health.

·       120 dB – Jet planes, especially during take-off can be dangerous when exposed to it over 30 seconds.

·       110 dB – Concerts playing any music genre, car horns, or sporting events can be harmful when exposed to over 30 minutes.

·       100 dB – Snowmobiles or MP3 players at full volume.

·       90 dB – Lawnmowers, power tools, blenders, or hair dryers can also be damaging when exposed for over 30 minutes.

·       85 dB – Over 85 dB for extended periods can result in permanent hearing loss.

·       80 dB – Alarm clocks, can be loud but not necessarily harmful

·       70 dB – Traffic noise or sound produced by vacuums is loud but not necessarily damaging.

·       60 dB – Moderate sounds from normal conversations or dishwasher machines/ dishwasher sounds.

·       50 dB – Sounds produced by moderate rainfall.

·       40 dB – Quiet library sound, categorized as soft sound.

·       30 dB – Whisper sound, also grouped as soft sound.

·       20 dB – Faint sound from leaves rustling.

Let’s expand on the decibel rating chart above with more details to guide you and help you determine if a decibel level is harmful or not.

Painful & Dangerous Sounds

Sounds considered painful and harmful to the human ear have decibel levels ranging from 120 to 140 dB. Even a few seconds of exposure to such high-intensity sounds can rupture the eardrum, leading to instant hearing loss.

Example sources of painful and dangerous sounds include:

·       Plane taking off;

·       Chainsaw or jackhammer

·       Thunderclap

·       Gunshots from firearm such as a shotgun or rifle;

Uncomfortable Sounds

Decibel sound charts between 110 dB and 120 dB are widely deemed unsafe and uncomfortable to the human ear. In fact, considerable exposure can cause pain and can damage your hearing instantly.

Sources of uncomfortable sounds include:

·       Symphony orchestra or rock concert

·       Helicopter or jet plane

·       Car horn

·       Large sporting events

·       Power saw

·       Leaf blower

Extremely Loud Sounds

Any sound above 80 dB to 110 dB on a decibel meter chart is deemed extremely loud and damaging to human hearing health. Experts advise that anyone around these kinds of noise to wear hearing protection to safeguard their ears.

Some examples of very loud sounds of 80 dB to 110 dB on the decibel range chart include:

·       Alarm clocks – 80 dB on decibel chart hearing loss

·       Playing music at a maximum volume – 100 dB on a decibel meter

·       Power tools – 90 dB on decibel chart

Irritating Sounds

These types of sounds may not be damaging to your hearing health, but they can often irritate or annoy you and make you uncomfortable.

They range from 70 dB to 80 dB on the decibel chart and can sometimes make you unable to focus when studying or working.

For adults, long exposure to such noise levels can cause stress and even spike your blood pressure levels. In the case of school children, these kinds of noises can affect reading and comprehension in classrooms.

Examples of daily irritating sounds between 70 dB and 80 dB on the decibel meter include:

·       Mundane traffic noise – 70 dB on the noise chart

·       Car tires – 70 dB on decibel meter

·       Vacuum cleaner or garbage disposal – 80 dB on the decibel rating chart.

Loud Noises

Any sounds between 60 dB and 80 dB on the hearing loss chart are considered loud sounds but not damaging to human hearing. Despite this, they are still very loud and not advisable to have prolonged exposure to.

Some of the most common sounds in the range of 60 dB to 80 dB on decibel meter are:

·       Loud radio – 70 dB to 75 dB on decibel scale

·       Busy street – 70 dB on decibel meter

·       Busy restaurant – 70 dB to 80 dB decibel levels

·       Normal conversation decibels – 60 dB on the chart

·       Dishwasher noise – 70 dB on decibel logarithmic scale

·       Electric shaver – 60 dB on decibel reader

·       Hairdryer noise – 70 dB on decibel meter chart

Moderate Sound

Sounds ranging from 40 dB to 60 dB on the dB sound chart are considered moderate noises. They are at the levels considered normal and acceptable and not harmful to human hearing. Some of the most common sources of moderate sounds in our daily environment are:

·       Rainfall – Quiet decibels

·       Normal level speech – Lower decibel readings of common sounds

·       Refrigerator – One of the quietest decibel ratings

·       Neighbourhood street – Have very quiet decibels

Soft Sounds

Soft sounds have the quietest decibel readings on the decibel charts, mostly ranging from 20 dB to 40 dB. They are safe for human hearing no matter how long you get exposed to them.

Examples of soft sounds on the decibel scale include:

·       A quiet space – Usually has OSHA allowable decibel levels

·       A quiet library – Lowest OSHA decibel limit

·       Rustling levels – Normally have lower noise ratings on the decibel chart.

·       Whispering – A person whisper is a soft sound with a low db rating chart

Very Quiet Sounds

These are sounds that are very quiet with quiet decibels on the scale. They usually range from 10 dB to 20 dB and are safer for human ears.

What decibel levels cause hearing loss?

According to experts, any noise level above 85 dB is harmful to your head and can cause permanent effects on your hearing. Dr. Michael S. Cohen, Audiologist states that, "Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can lead to permanent hearing loss. It's crucial to protect your ears in environments where noise levels exceed this threshold."

Even short-period exposure to these sounds can be very damaging, as Dr. Jennifer L. Gans, also an audiologist, discusses: "Hearing damage can occur with just a few minutes of exposure to sounds at 100 decibels or higher, such as a rock concert or a chainsaw. Awareness and prevention are key."

The safe listening period of a sound above 85 dB is reduced by a half per every 3 dB rise in noise levels on the decibel chart.

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a condition caused by exposure to loud noise, damaging gentle hearing hair cells in your ear.

Exposure to sounds below 85 dB can also affect your hearing health. Audiologist Richard E. Brown says "Decibel levels above 70 can be harmful over time, especially if exposure is consistent. Using hearing protection in loud environments is essential to prevent irreversible damage."

Safe Listening Times for Various Sound Levels

The safe listening period of a sound above 85 dB is reduced by a half per every 3 dB rise in noise levels on the decibel chart. This is according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

For instance, your hearing can endure sounds at 85 dB for a maximum of 8 hours. Let's say the noise levels increase by 3 dB, reaching 88 dB. The safe listening time for this noise level would be 4 hours. And if the sound increases again by 3 dB to 91 dB, the safe exposure time is reduced to 2 hours.

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