1. Protecting Your Ears Matters
Few things in life come with a 100% guarantee. But, with the proper care, you can virtually guarantee your ears won't be damaged by loud noises. Most hearing loss happens naturally as we age. Damage to the inner ear from loud sounds, known as noise induced hearing loss, is the second leading cause of hearing loss. By limiting your exposure to loud sounds, and wearing the right protective devices when you are exposed to loud noises, you can keep your ears healthy for a lifetime.
2. Ear Plugs
Earplugs come in two basic types, an expandable foam insert and a flexible plastic. The foam earplug is rolled tightly before it's put in the ear and then expands. It serves like a defensive line in football, blocking the noise from getting by. The plastic earplugs work in the same way, but are reusable. On the upside, earplugs are small and convenient, and comfortable to wear even in hot and humid conditions. But, they're also easy to lose, can be hard to put in and can irritate the ear. To avoid ear infections, it's important to keep your hands and the plastic earplugs clean. It's best to use the foam earplugs only once.
3. Earmuffs and Canal Caps
Yes, earmuffs look just like the headgear you wore as a kid in the winter. But, these earmuffs are made to fight noise and they do it very well. Earmuffs are the most effective form of hearing protection. They are made of a hard outer shell and a soft inner cushion. The earmuffs fit over the entire ear and are held together by an adjustable headband. Think of canal caps as the little brother. These are small, flexible tips that either fit into the ear or simply cap the opening. A lightweight headband holds the canal caps together. Though convenient, canal caps are less effective at higher noise levels.
4. The Noise Reduction Rating
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has your back--and your ears. The EPA established the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) to let us compare the effectiveness of different hearing protection products. Every protective hearing device has an NRR number. The numbers represent decibels and the higher the number, the greater the hearing protection. For example, a device with an NRR of 17 decibels will reduce the noise of a 100 decibel noise (a chainsaw) to 83 decibels. A device with an NRR of 27 will reduce the chainsaw noise from 100 to 73 decibels.
5. For the Decibel Challenged
If you left your handy decibel guide at home, you've come to the right place. Here are some typical sounds and their decibel levels (anything above 85 decibels (dB) is a hazard): a whisper, 30dB; normal conversation or a typewriter, 60dB; a lawnmower, 90dB (just into the hazard zone); a chainsaw or a snowmobile, 100dB; a rock concert, 115dB; a jet engine or a gun muzzle blast, 140dB (yikes!). So, be careful out there.
