Environmental Noise Louder Than You Think
(PRWEB) February 18, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jennifer Liebrum
February 15, 2001 (760) 340-9300
jennifer@shepherdPR. com
Environmental Noise Louder Than You Think
American Tinnitus Association Releases Hearing Conservation Tips for 2001
Portland, OR – You might instinctively throw your hands over your ears as a subway train screeches to a stop, but what about your hair dryer?
The two seemingly diverse noise generators actually register the same on a sound meter resonating at 100 decibels. At that level, the American Tinnitus Association (ATA) cautions that you can be well on your way to permanent hearing damage. It can result in something as aggravating as a constant ringing in the ears -- commonly referred to as tinnitus -- or as devastating as total hearing loss.
Because such damage is largely preventable, the ATA is hoping the public will add hearing conservation to their roster of health pledges made in the New Year. To that end, the association has compiled a list of common environmental sounds and their decibel ratings to educate people about the relative risks for certain types of sounds.
20 Ticking watch 85 Average factory
30 Quiet whisper 95 MRI
40 Rustling leaves, refrigerator hum 100 Blow dryer, subway train
50 Rainfall 105 Power mower, chainsaw
60 Normal conversation, dishwasher 120 Rock concert, fireworks display
70 Normal street noise 130 Jet engine plane (100 ft. away)
80 Police whistle 140 Shotgun blast, air bag deployment
A decibel is a unit for expressing the relative intensity of sounds with zero being the least perceptible and about 130 marking the average level of pain-inducing sound. Sounds of 85 decibels and above are considered dangerous. An MRI, for example, can save your life, but it also could damage your hearing if precautions are not taken. And those movie trailers we all enjoy may be costing us too as they are aired more loudly than the feature film.
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Decibels continued: page 2
You know the dangers, but what can be done about it? Earplugs offer an inexpensive and effective solution by cutting out about 15-20 decibels of loud sounds. If you are standing three feet away from someone and canÂ’t hear what that person is saying to you, the noise level is high enough to do damage.
Review labels on appliances and childrenÂ’s toys for noise levels. Encourage teens to take plugs to the amusement park or concerts. If a movie is too loud, take the initiative and ask that it be turned down. You will be doing everyone -- including the projectionist -- a service.
Tinnitus (pronounced ti-night'-us or tin'-i-tus) is the medical term for the perception of sound when no external sound is present. The scope of noise may include hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking and can be heard intermittently or constantly, in single or multiple tones.
Of the 50 million Americans affected by tinnitus, the effects range from subtle, even temporary, to a permanent life-altering level. It can strike people of all ages. At least 12 million among the known sufferers are so seriously afflicted that they cannot function on a "normal," day-to-day basis.
The ATA began in 1971 to provide research support. It grew to be recognized both nationally and internationally for its assertive stance on behalf of people with tinnitus.
For more information on the ATA, call (800) 634-8978 or visit their World Wide Web site at www. ata. org.
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