{"id":321,"date":"2019-05-24T20:41:17","date_gmt":"2019-05-24T20:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fueldev.site\/~acnw\/?p=321"},"modified":"2019-05-24T20:43:56","modified_gmt":"2019-05-24T20:43:56","slug":"when-your-8-to-5-exceeds-85-decibels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/audiologycenternw.com\/when-your-8-to-5-exceeds-85-decibels\/","title":{"rendered":"When Your 8 to 5 Exceeds 85 Decibels"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If\nyou\u2019re like most people in Portland, you probably think hearing loss<\/strong> won\u2019t be a problem until you\u2019re well into your golden\nyears. The truth is, only one-third of adults with a hearing impairment are\nolder than 65. Hearing loss affects people of all ages, and one of the most\ncommon culprits in younger people \u2013 excessive noise \u2013 might be occurring in\nyour workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How Noise\nAffects Your Hearing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Noise\nexposure is the biggest cause of hearing loss in younger individuals. Around 15\npercent of people aged 20-69 in Portland are diagnosed with hearing loss caused\nby excessive noise. When decibel (dB) levels exceed 85, the threshold for safe\nnoise exposure, damage to the hair cells of the inner ear can occur. The louder\nthe noise, the less safe exposure time you have; at 85 dB damage can occur\nafter eight hours, but it takes only 15 minutes for irreversible damage to\noccur when sounds measure 100 dB. And that is a problem in many workplaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protecting Your Ears on the Job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Noise-induced\nhearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases in Oregon and\nacross the country. While it is of particular concern in manufacturing and\nconstruction jobs, it can occur in many other places you might not expect.\nTeachers, musicians, gardeners, farmers and airport ground staff are all\nfrequently exposed to dangerous noise levels on a daily basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nOccupational\nSafety and Health Administration<\/a> (OSHA) has established guidelines\non permissible noise levels in the workplace in an effort to protect workers of\nall ages from long-term hearing loss. Per OSHA, workers can be exposed to noise\nlevels of 90 dB in an eight-hour day. Employees have additional rights for a\nsafe working environment, including the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n