It isn’t news that loud noise can damage our hearing, but it may surprise you that noise related hearing loss is costing US workers hundreds of billions of dollars annually. A new study from the University of Michigan tallies annual lost earnings from noise exposure in the United States at a whopping 615 billion dollars.
Dangerous Noise
Noise levels that reach 85 decibels and above can be hazardous to human hearing, with the risk increasing as the volume does. Sound at 85 decibels can permanently damage your hearing after eight hours of exposure, while sound at 105 decibels can do the same damage in 5 minutes. Sounds that reach 120 decibels or above can instantly damage the human ear.
Exposure to dangerous levels of workplace noise is a leading cause of hearing loss. Many jobs involve noise hazards, and it’s important to be aware of the danger, especially if loud noise is part of your everyday routine. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has issued standards that hearing protection must be provided for workers in loud work environments (outlined as levels that can cause hearing damage, such as consistent sound 85 decibels or above). Very loud jobs- such as the ground crew at airports or factory equipment operators- require specialized hearing protection to prevent hearing impairment.
Worker Impact
The University of Michigan Study solely looked at lost earnings from hearing loss, but the impact of a hearing impairment can be felt throughout a person’s life. Hearing loss increases a person’s cost of healthcare and can be a burden on their quality of life and family relationships. While much hearing loss is manageable with hearing aids and other treatment, when hearing loss goes without treatment it can have long ranging effects. Workers with untreated hearing loss typically earn less income than their peers with healthy hearing, setting them at a disadvantage in the job market.
Even looking solely at lost earnings, we can start to see a picture of how hearing loss affects the economy. Of the 615 billion dollars lost annually, a full quarter of that amount is connected to noise-related hearing loss. Half of those noise-related hearing loss cases can be sourced to occupational noise, roughly 77 billion dollars, or 12.5% of the total.
Reducing Exposure
One of the clearest ways to better the economic impact of hearing loss is to raise awareness about harmful noise and to promote the use of ear protection. Cases of noise related hearing loss are among the easiest to effectively prevent. Eliminating noise-related hearing loss entirely would restore over 150 billion dollars to the economy.
With outlined goals to reduce the incidence of worker hearing loss by 10-20%, reducing workplace noise exposure will be key. Stricter enforcement of hearing protection use and better monitoring of noise levels are important first steps toward safer and healthier workforce. If you are an employee curious about on your on-the-job noise levels you may want to try a smart phone app designed to help you monitor sound volume.
Increasing job awareness around noise is one part of the road toward eliminating noise-related hearing loss. Work also needs to be done to help quiet our noise exposure outside of job places. Ongoing traffic and urban noise can easily reach the 85-decibel threshold. Listening to personal devices with headphones or ear buds and turned up volume is another way many people damage their hearing without realizing the harm. Setting volume controls low and assessing your daily exposure to harmful noise are two things you can do to monitor the noise in your life.
Healthier All Around
Noise is a public health issue. With noise related hearing issues sapping money from the economy, the clearest path to prevention relies heavily on broad-based programs to mitigate and minimize exposure to dangerous noise levels. The result will be a happier, healthier work force and an economic advantage to match.
Hearing Wellness Solutions
When you have questions about your hearing, Hearing Wellness Solutions can help you find the answers. Our expert team of hearing specialists can help you prevent and manage hearing loss with hearing solutions from the world’s leading brands. If your hearing has changed recently, or its just time for your annual exam, give us a call to set up an appointment today, and get on the path to healthy hearing.
