This week is International Noise Awareness Day, and we want to shed a little light, with real data, on this often invisible problem in society.
Too much noise, for too long, affects your hearing
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
We hope this helps raise wider awareness of noise and the problems it causes across society.
To start with, let’s answer one question.
How does noise affect hearing?
Numerous studies show a link between prolonged exposure to loud noise and hearing loss, known as noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL.
Noise-induced hearing loss is usually bilateral — affecting both ears — and permanent.
This condition has traditionally been associated with jobs involving high noise exposure, but the WHO warned last year that new entertainment sources also carry a very high risk, one that could significantly affect young people.
1.1 billion young people (aged between 12 and 35) are at risk of hearing loss due to noise exposure in recreational settings
https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
What’s more, numerous studies also link high noise levels to other hearing-related problems, such as tinnitus.
If we look at the working world in a country like Spain, according to data from the Ministry of Health up to March 2020, noise-induced hearing loss is the seventh most common occupational disease, with a total of 7,301 cases reported at work — representing 1.43% of the total.
| Condition | Cases reported | % of total cases |
|---|---|---|
| Conditions caused by forced postures and repetitive movements at work: conditions caused by fatigue and inflammation of tendon sheaths, peritendinous tissue, and muscle and tendon insertions | 3,704 | 50.73% |
| Conditions caused by forced postures and repetitive movements at work: nerve palsies caused by pressure | 2,104 | 28.82% |
| Infectious diseases caused by work involving prevention, medical care, and activities with a proven infection risk (excluding microorganisms covered under Group 1 of Royal Decree 664/1997, of 12 May) | 239 | 3.27% |
| Low molecular weight substances under 1,000 daltons (metals and their salts, wood dust, pharmaceutical products, plastic chemical substances, additives, solvents, preservatives, catalysts, perfumes, adhesives, acrylates, low molecular weight resins | 182 | 2.49% |
| Vocal cord nodules caused by sustained professional voice strain | 168 | 2.30% |
| Free silica dust | 132 | 1.80% |
| Noise-induced hearing loss or deafness | 105 | 1.44% |
| Total | 6,634 | 91% |
These figures may well change once COVID-19 data is updated, but even so, noise-induced hearing loss would still rank among the leading occupational diseases.
Although the Ministry doesn’t break the data down by individual condition, only by disease group, if we extrapolate using the percentage calculated for noise-induced hearing loss so far in 2020, Spain would have a total of 2,612 people affected by noise-induced hearing loss between 2007 and 2019.
And these figures don’t take into account people affected by noise from entertainment sources.
3 noise factors that affect hearing
The damage noise causes to your hearing mainly depends on three factors:
- Volume
- Length of noise exposure
- Distance from the noise source
High volume can cause noise-induced hearing loss
Generally, sounds below 70dB can be considered harmless to hearing, but prolonged exposure to sounds above 85dB could cause damage.
The problem is that these noise levels are found in many everyday environments. The table below shows the approximate dB levels of different sounds:
| Sound | Decibels |
|---|---|
| Fridge | 40-43dB |
| Conversation | 40dB |
| Hairdryer | 59-90dB |
| Alarm clock | 60-80dB |
| Inside a car with windows down at 50 km/h | 72-76dB |
| Motorbike | 90dB |
| Stereo system at maximum volume | 100-120dB |
| Jackhammer | 120dB |
| Rock concert | 140dB |
Length of noise exposure affects hearing loss
It’s not just noise volume that matters, but also how long we’re exposed to it. As general guidelines, we can look at the following figures shared by the NIH:
- For noise at 85dB, exposure of more than several hours could be harmful.
- For noise at 100dB, a maximum exposure of 14 minutes.
- For noise at 140dB, a maximum exposure of 2 minutes.
Distance from the noise source affects the damage caused
We all know that moving away from the source makes sound quieter, so at concerts, never stand right next to the speaker!
4 tips to protect your hearing from noise
- Turn down the volume on your devices, especially when using headphones or earphones.
- Try not to spend long periods in noisy environments like clubs or concerts, and if you do, use hearing protection — there are earplugs for musicians that lower the volume without losing music quality.
- Anticipate loud noises and use foam earplugs or cover your ears with your hands.
- Take regular breaks when at concerts, clubs, or listening to music through headphones.
Sources for this article on noise and hearing loss
- NIH – National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
- Current insights in noise-induced hearing loss: a literature review of the underlying mechanism, pathophysiology, asymmetry, and management options, 2017, Trung N. Le, Louise V. Straatman, Jane Lea, and Brian Westerberg.
- AUDITORY SYSTEM DISORDERS. Thomas O. Willcox, Gregory J. Artz, in Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, 2007
- https://www.who.int/es/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/deafness-and-hearing-loss
Frequently asked questions
Excessive noise damages the hair cells of the inner ear, which don’t regenerate, causing permanent or temporary hearing loss. This damage can build up over time, reducing the ability to understand speech or pick out quiet sounds.
Sounds above 85 dB are considered a risk to hearing if repeated or prolonged. For example, heavy traffic and headphones at high volume both exceed this threshold.
A very loud noise (such as an explosion) can cause instant hearing damage. But moderate noise, if repeated continuously over time, also leads to gradual, irreversible hearing loss.
Yes, exposure to intense noise can trigger tinnitus, which shows up as ringing or buzzing in the ears, either as a one-off or as a chronic condition.
• Use hearing protection in noisy environments (concerts, construction sites, heavy traffic areas).
• Lower headphone volume, keeping it below 60%.
• Take listening breaks, stepping away from noise from time to time.
• Avoid exposing your ears to excessive noise.
• If you use headphones, follow the 60/60 rule: no more than 60% volume, for a maximum of 60 minutes at a time.
• Get regular hearing check-ups, especially if you work in or are exposed to noisy environments.
