What did you SAY?

May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!
	What did you SAY? I can’t HEAR you!

What is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)?
	It’s hearing damage caused by either listening to a very loud sound at one time or by repeatedly hearing sound at various loudness levels over a long period of time.¹ Hearing loss may be temporary or permanent

How loud is too loud?
	It depends on how loud is the sound and how long you’re hearing the sound. Sound is measured in decibels (dB). Below is a noise chart² for some examples:

	Decibel Level	What We Hear
	30 dB	Whisper
	50-65 dB	Normal conversation/laughter
	70 dB	Vacuum cleaner, hair dryer
	78 dB	Washing machine, dishwasher
	80 dB	Garbage disposal, city traffic noise
Prolonged exposure to noise above 85dB can cause gradual hearing loss (yellow box).
	84 dB	Diesel truck
	88 dB	Motorcycle
	85-90 dB	Lawnmower
	100 dB	Train, garbage truck
Regular exposure of more than 1 minute risks permanent hearing loss (red box).
	103 dB	Jet flying at 100 ft.
	110 dB	Jackhammer, power saw, symphony orchestra
	120 dB	Thunderclap
	110-125 dB	Stereo, boom-box
	110-140 dB	Rock concert
	130 dB	Jet takeoff, shotgun firing

How can I tell if the sound is too loud?
	It hurts your ears to listen to the sound. You have to raise your voice above a normal speaking level to be heard by someone sitting next to you.

What can I do to protect my hearing?
	Know which noises can cause damage (see chart). Wear earplugs during noisy activities. Turn it DOWN!!!! Or Walk away from the noise.

Websites:

Crank it down! www.hearingconservation.org,

Lesson Plan for 5th to 8th grade classroom:
Hearing Conservation: Raising Awareness about Excessive Noise

Online Brochure:

Click here to view the Hearing Conservation Education presentation.

To download the PowerPoint presentation for classroom use click here.

References: 1. Healthy People 2000, 2. Wise Ears