Hearing Thresholds: Measurement, Levels, and Influences Interpreting Hearing Threshold Levels Once an audiogram is completed, the plotted thresholds reveal the degree and pattern of a person’s hearing Thresholds between -10 and 25 dB HL are considered within the normal range for adults, while thresholds higher than 25 dB HL indicate some degree of hearing loss
Understand Noise Exposure | Noise and Hearing Loss | CDC The NIOSH recommended exposure limit (REL) for occupational noise exposure is 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) over an eight-hour shift If workers are repeatedly exposed to noise at or above the REL, employers must provide a hearing loss prevention program
How to Read Your Hearing Test Results (Audiogram) Hearing thresholds represent the softest sounds that you can hear at different frequencies These thresholds are measured in decibels (dB) and show the minimum sound intensity needed for you to hear a specific sound frequency To determine your hearing thresholds, a hearing specialist uses two important tests: air conduction and bone conduction
DB Chart Hearing Loss: How Noise Levels Affect Hearing Health The Threshold for Hearing Damage Noise above 85 dB, especially when exposure lasts longer than eight hours, can cause gradual hearing loss due to loud noises For example, power tools can reach around 100 dB, and concerts or sports events often exceed 110 dB, which can lead to hearing damage after just a few minutes of exposure
The Silent Threshold: At What Level Does Hearing Loss Occur? In general, hearing loss is considered to occur when an individual’s hearing threshold exceeds 25 dB in the speech frequency range (500 Hz to 4,000 Hz) This means that if someone’s hearing threshold is 25 dB or higher, they may have difficulty hearing soft sounds, such as whispers or faint voices
Human Decibel Range: What’s Safe What Damages Hearing? In general, these may be the levels: 0 db: The softest sound the average human ear can hear 30 db: Quite a library 60 db: Normal conversation 85 db: Busy city traffic 100 db: Lawnmower or hairdryer 120 db: A rock concert 180 db: Jet engine during takeoff (dangerously high to hearing)
What Are Decibels And How Can They Affect Hearing Health Decibels measure sound intensity on a logarithmic scale, with each increase of 10 dB representing a tenfold increase in sound intensity For example, a sound that measures 50 dB is ten times more intense than a sound that measures 40 dB