
Watch our HEARsmart video to find out more. Hearing loss and tinnitus can occur in one or both ears. Tinnitus may subside over time, but can sometimes be permanent, continuing constantly or occasionally throughout a person’s life. Loud noise exposure can also cause tinnitus - a ringing, buzzing, or roaring in the ears or head. This kind of noise injury could result in immediate hearing loss that may be permanent. Noise injury can also be caused by extremely loud bursts of sound, such as gunshots or explosions, which can rupture the eardrum or damage the bones in the middle ear. If you have noise injury you might not even be aware of it, but it can be detected with a hearing test.

Over time, the sounds we hear may become distorted or muffled, and it may be difficult to understand other people when they talk. When we’re exposed to loud noise over a long period of time, we gradually start to lose our hearing. What are the effects and symptoms of noise injury? Long-term hearing loss > For a more in-depth look at loud sounds, visit the NOISE database which brings together hundreds of noise measurements from around the world. > Want to know more about other loud sounds and how loud is too loud? Check out this interactive noise meter. How long can you listen without protection? The table below gives examples of various everyday sounds, the sound level or loudness (given as decibels), and the length of time we can safely be exposed to these sounds before permanent damage is likely to occur. However, repeated or lengthy exposure to sounds at or above 85 decibels (approximately the level of a vacuum cleaner) can cause hearing loss. Sounds of less than 75 decibels, even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. Sound is measured in units called decibels. The higher the level of sound and the longer the exposure, the more damage likely to occur. Damage to hearing from noise accumulates, just as the sun can gradually damage our skin. If you are in a situation in which you need to raise your voice to be understood, then the noise is probably too loud. Loud sound does not have to be physically painful to cause hearing damage. Noise injury can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time, such as noise generated in a woodworking shop. We've also listed some useful websites and resources for more information. However, when we’re exposed to harmful noise - sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last a long time - sensitive structures in our inner ear can be damaged, causing noise injury. Normally, these sounds are at safe levels that don’t damage our hearing. Noise InjuryĮvery day, we experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic.

The most significant single cause of hearing loss in Australia is exposure to loud noise, with one study suggesting that 37% of Australians have experienced some form of noise-related hearing damage.
