Today’s hearing fact may come as no surprise: Did your mind also drift to how loud concerts can be as a spectator, too? But it serves as a valuable reminder that hearing loss isn’t the only condition we should be wary of when it comes to noise exposure at work.
And that applies to whether you’re employed in music or any other industry where loud noise is ever-present.
Tinnitus, the sensation of noise in the ears (e.g. buzzing, roaring, humming, etc.) when no outside sound is present, impacts about 1 in 13 US workers, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Moreover, 1 in 25 of the nation’s workers have both hearing loss and tinnitus.
The good news: Awareness is the first step to protecting your hearing from the noise exposure that often leads to tinnitus. But before we examine the next steps you can take to safeguard your hearing, let’s dig into the study that brought about today’s fact to begin with.
Study compared hearing issues of those in “loud” and “quiet” jobs
Researchers at the University of Manchester evaluated the medical and lifestyle records of 23,000 people in the UK. Their intention was to compare the extent of hearing difficulties and tinnitus between people employed in “noisy, high-risk” industries (music, agriculture, construction) and those working in a “quiet, low-risk” industry (finance).
From the study, Dr. Sam Couth of the University of Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness concluded that people employed in the music industry are at “considerable risk” of developing tinnitus, mainly because of exposure to loud noise at work.
This includes “performing musicians, music directors, and production staff for all genres of music,” Couth added.
When you consider that all it takes to damage your hearing is exposure to sounds 85 decibels (dB) and above and an amplified concert typically exceeds 100 dB, it’s easy to see why those working in the music industry would be susceptible to tinnitus—and why protecting their hearing should be a priority, as Couth further recommended.
(Remember to be mindful of your own hearing safety when you attend concerts, too.)
How to know if you’re experiencing noise exposure at work
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) noise regulations may vary depending on what you do and where you work (contact OSHA with any specific questions or concerns), we can give you OSHA’s general guidelines on how to identify noise exposure at work—plus some useful tips of our own—and what you can do to protect your hearing.
According to OSHA, signs your workplace may have a noise problem include:
- You hear humming or ringing in your ears after work.
- You must shout to be heard by a co-worker who is only an arm’s length away.
- You experience temporary hearing loss after work.
If you’re experiencing any of these conditions, it’s likely your working environment has a decibel level of 85 or above. And if noise exposure where you work averages at or above 85 dB over 8 working hours (or an 8-hour time-weighted average), your employer must implement a hearing conservation program.
Another way you can recognize possible noise exposure at your workplace is to monitor noise levels using a smartphone app like SoundCheck Live.
Free and easy to use, SoundCheck Live has a built-in sound level meter that tracks sound around you and displays current, average, and maximum noise levels in decibels. It also indicates if sound levels are considered safe or loud, or if hearing protection is recommended.
Speaking of, wearing hearing protection is the best way to protect your hearing from excessive noise—anywhere.
Worn in (earplugs) or on (protective earmuffs) your ears, hearing protection devices are designed to block or attenuate sound waves from entering the ear so fewer decibels of sound can get in and potentially cause damage.
For even more ways to help safeguard your hearing from tinnitus or hearing loss, check out this short Starkey YouTube Channel video.
Hearing care professionals can help
If you think you are experiencing tinnitus or hearing loss, and/or would like to explore hearing protection, reach out to a hearing care professional. They will be happy to evaluate your hearing and help you determine the best solutions for your needs.
If you don’t have a hearing care professional, simply type your zip code in here and it’ll generate a list of local providers you can call.
After all, music is just one of many joys of hearing you would hate to miss out on. Tune out tinnitus by taking care of your hearing health today.