Hearing & Noise

The loudness of sound is measured in units called decibels, abbreviated "dB." A decible unit expresses the relative intensity of sounds on a scale from zero for the average least perceptible sound to about 100 dB for the highest pain level. Normal speech is around 60 to 65 dB. The following chart demonstrates the sound scale in decibles:

When an individual is over-exposed to excessive sound levels, sensitive structures of the inner ear can be damaged, causing noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

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