How Loud Is Too Loud? Protect Yourself From Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Maybe you have a teenager who blasts music through their earbuds. Or maybe you work with loud machinery. Either way, you’ve probably wondered if what you’ve heard about loud noises and hearing is true. 

Some pieces of traditional health wisdom — like avoiding swimming after eating and the 5-second rule — aren’t supported by science. But, when it comes to loud noises, the science is clear: They can cause hearing loss. 

Exposure to loud noises in the short term can temporarily disrupt your hearing. But long-term exposure can cause you to develop permanent noise-induced hearing loss. So, if you’re exposed to loud noises at work or you enjoy cranking up the volume when you’re listening to music, here’s what you need to know to keep your hearing safe. 

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How many decibels is too loud?

Sound intensity — or loudness — is measured in decibels (dB). Sounds that are high decibel can lead to noise-induced hearing loss, especially if someone is exposed to these sounds for long periods of time. 

Experts state that sounds that are 70 dB or lower won’t lead to hearing damage or loss.

But any sound higher than 80 to 85 dB can eventually lead to hearing loss. It doesn’t matter if these sounds come from music or lawn mowers. There’s no such thing as a “safe sound” if it’s too loud.

The CDC keeps a table of common sounds and how loud they are on average, for you to reference. You might be surprised to learn how loud noises are from these common sources:

• Breathing is about 10 dB.

• Regular conversation is about 60 dB.

• A gas-powered lawn mower or leaf blower is 80 to 85 dB.

• A typical concert is 100 dB.

On a regular day, you might be exposed to loud sounds more often than you would expect.

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What are the effects of loud sounds?

Loud sounds cause hearing damage and, over time, they can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. It’s not exactly clear how loud noises lead to hearing loss. But research suggests that loud noises damage the hair cells of the inner ear. 

These hair cells play an important role in hearing. When a sound enters the ear, the hair cells move and conduct the sound waves to the auditory nerve. The auditory nerve passes the sounds to the brain, which allows us to interpret sound waves into things like language and music. Without hair cells, the brain doesn’t receive sound signals. 

The higher the decibel levels, the more quickly a person can develop hearing damage. For example, very loud sounds (above 120 dB) can permanently damage hearing after only a few minutes. 

At moderately high decibel levels, the time it takes for loud sounds to cause hearing damage varies from person to person. Some people are more at risk for developing noise-induced hearing loss. And, while it’s not clear why exactly this is the case, scientists believe that genetics may play a role. 

What are the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss?

People who experience noise-induced hearing loss have a wide range of hearing changes. Some common things people report include:

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Trouble hearing people speak if there’s background noise

• Pain when exposed to loud sounds

• Needing to turn up the volume when watching television or listening to music

• Trouble hearing people talk on the telephone

• Inability to hear loud-pitched noises 

If you have these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider. You may need a hearing test to see if you have noise-induced hearing loss.

How can you tell if sounds are too loud?

The National Institutes of Health has a simple way to help you tell if the sounds around you are too loud: Talk to someone an arm’s length away; if you have to raise your voice for them to hear you, it’s probably too loud. 

While this test can be helpful for short-term situations, you shouldn’t rely on it if you’re exposed to loud noises on a regular basis. If you’re often around loud noises because of work or because you tend to listen to music or the TV at higher volumes, download this free sound level meter app. The app can tell you the decibel levels around you, which is the first step to protecting your hearing. 

How can you protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss?

Because of concerts, headphones, and work exposures, noise-induced hearing loss is becoming more common. Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, and sometimes treatments like hearing aids don’t help. 

So prevention is the best way to maintain your hearing. Some things you can do to prevent noise-induced hearing loss include:

• Turn down your TV and music: While it’s probably fine to turn up the volume once in a while, aim to keep things well below 70 dB most of the time. If your device has hearing protection software, make sure it’s on. This software will automatically turn down the volume if it’s too loud. 

• Wear noise-canceling headphones: Sometimes, the environment around you is so loud that you have to turn up the volume on your phone or computer in order to hear. If that’s the case, switch out your from regular headphones or earbuds for noise-canceling ones. By canceling out the noise around you, you’ll be able to hear your own device at a lower decibel level. 

• Switch to quieter appliances: If you can, switch to quieter machinery and appliances. Some of these devices even come with decibel controls. If you can’t switch, make sure that your machinery and appliances are in good working condition. Replace worn parts and keep parts well lubricated; this will reduce the amount of noise things make.

• Limit your exposure to very loud noises: A concert is fun once in a while, but too many can take a toll on your hearing. Try to avoid very loud noises whenever possible. If you know you’re going to be somewhere that’s loud, stay away from noise sources, like speakers, as much as possible. 

• Wear ear protection: It’s not just planes, concerts, and MRI machines that can wreak havoc on your hearing. Regular life can get pretty loud, too. Your workplace and gym likely regularly get above 70 dB, so it’s a good idea to wear hearing protection in these areas. A good pair of ear plugs are inexpensive and portable, and you can pop them in whenever things are getting too loud.  

• Follow your job’s hearing protection protocols: If you have a job that exposes you to loud noises, take all protocols about hearing protection seriously. Follow the time limits for exposure and always wear your ear protection, which should be in good condition and replaced regularly. 

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC

Jennifer Clements, MD, MSEd, NBHWC, is a board-certified physician and health coach who is passionate about achieving optimal health through healthy lifestyles. Clements is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Integrative Medicine.

Edited by:

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH, is a medical editor at GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with more than a decade of experience in academic medicine.

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