Hearing loss can be a direct effect of many occupations, recreational activities, and general exposure to loud environmental sounds. The first step toward protecting your hearing is education and understanding which sounds can be detrimental to your hearing. The following information can be used as a general guide to determine hazardous noise exposure levels.

Permanent loss can occur in as little as 15 minutes with exposure to certain sounds and almost instantly with unprotected exposure to sounds generated by firearms and certain power tools. If your hearing is susceptible to any sounds above 90 decibels, you need to take immediate action to prevent permanent hearing damage.