We love the renewed energy we feel when spring finally starts to make itself known, and the itch to start a new house project and work in the yard. In the excitement, don’t forget to protect your hearing. Many appliances and tools we use are far too loud for our ears, often exceeding the safe limit of 85 decibels (dB).
Your Power Tools Are Loud
You’re probably familiar with a change in hearing after hearing something loud, like a gunshot or a rock concert. While your power drill doesn’t seem as loud as that, it and other power tools and yard tools can reach dangerous volumes. An electric drill can reach 95 dB, a gas-powered lawnmower can hit 90-100 dB, a leaf blower can exceed 100 dB and a chainsaw can reach 110 dB or more.
These sound levels become even more dangerous when considering the length of time you’re exposed to them. A sound at 100 dB can cause permanent hearing damage after one hour’s worth of exposure, and most yard work or DIY projects are going to take much longer than that.
Protecting Your Hearing
When using loud tools, you should always wear hearing protection. Earplugs are the bare minimum. These are effective, and they’re widely available and inexpensive. Even better would be investing in some high-quality specialty earmuffs. There are even digital earmuffs available that can filter out loud noise while still allowing speech and other everyday sounds through, ensuring that you can still hear what’s going on in your shop.
You may also consider using quieter alternatives. A gas-powered lawnmower can reach 100 dB, but electric or battery-operated lawnmowers are much quieter, around 75–80 dB, which is a much safer volume. In some cases, you may be able to skip a power tool entirely; instead of a motorized tiller, consider a hoe or pitchfork to break up and turn over the soil in your garden.
Finally, give your ears regular breaks from the noise. Take regular fifteen-minute breaks where you turn all equipment off and sit in a quiet environment for a little while. This won’t undo any damage, but it can help.
Signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL, is one of the most common types of hearing loss, affecting as many as 40 million U.S. adults. Here are some signs to watch out for that could indicate significant hearing damage from exposure to loud noise:
- Muffled or distorted hearing
- A feeling of fullness in your ears
- Difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds
- Sound sensitivity
- Difficulty hearing background noise
- Difficulty hearing following conversations, especially in groups
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)
If you’ve noticed any of these signs after a weekend working in the shop, come visit us at SH Audiology immediately. You should never ignore changes to your hearing. Call today to make an appointment.