Did You Know? Advice: Protect Your How Long Is Too Long? What's That Ringing? It's not just your parent or Ears from Damaging your grandparent whose Exposure to noise above 85 decibels (dB) The red bar below shows how long it takes for Have you ever driven an open cab tractor for hearing may be slipping. can cause permanent hearing loss. a particular sound level to become dangerous to several hours or gone to a loud , then A 25-year-old farmer the human ear. For example, a chain saw has a heard a ringing in your ears for the next hour or two? How would you feel if that ringing can have the ears of a It can even result from a single nearby sound intensity of about 109 dB. Without proper never went away? 50-year-old and not even shotgun blast, dynamite blast or other very hearing protection, running a chain saw for only know it! loud noise. 2 minutes can cause hearing loss! min That's what happens to many people exposed to loud noise. Nothing can restore lost hearing. Too Loud <1 85 min Once it’s gone, it’s gone! It only takes...<2 That ringing in the ears is called tinnitus, and Gunshot min while many people hear ringing, some hear <4 BUT hearing loss caused by noise is 112 dB hissing, roaring, whistling, chirping or clicking preventable — and you can choose to Firecrackers . may show up before you even prevent it. 109 dB notice much hearing loss. Grain dryer 7.5 min 106 dB Noise-induced hearing loss can result from Chain saw 103 dB 15 min working around farm noise - even hand Rock band drills - without hearing protection. 100 dB 30 min Circular saw If you're exposed to loud noise on the farm Squealing pigs 97 dB 1 hour Tractor, in shop(idling - 6’ away) you may already be losing your hearing. 94 dB 2 hours “My little girl doesn't Hand drill 91 dB understand why I can't Hearing protection can increase 4 hours hear what she is Combine(full throttle - 10’ away) 88 dB your ability to hear your equipment or whispering in my ear. others' voices because it cuts down on the Table saw 85 dB 8 hours She says…‘Mommy hears background noise. Some earmuffs have Tractor, without cab me when I whisper’.” amplification circuits that may help even hearing impaired workers communicate Combine(full throttle - in cab) better in noisy backgrounds. Tractor, enclosed cab

You can buy protective earmuffs with Normal conversation built-in radios that allow you to listen 0 25 50 7585 100 125 150 safely to your favorite sports or dB If you know someone with hearing loss, you know that conversation can be frustrating for while working. They make nice gifts. A "decibel" is the unit used to measure the loudness of sound. both of you. “I thought if I lost my Decibel levels for each item shown in the graph may vary. hearing, it would be People have found that protecting A good hearing aid can help, because it amplifies quiet. But that themselves from noise reduces their constant ringing stress, anxiety and fatigue at the end the sound. However it does not make sound clearer the way glasses make your vision sharp. keeps me awake of the day. If you need to raise your voice to be heard at night and I can't an arm’s length away, the noise is probably Hearing aids do not correct hearing hear my friends very The best way to avoid hearing loss is to loud enough to damage your hearing. the way glasses correct vision. well on my cell phone.” reduce your exposure by using quieter equipment or staying away from noise. Hearing Protection Resources How Can I Protect My Hearing?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute You don’t have to have the hearing of a for Occupational Safety and Health, Noise and Hearing Loss Prevention Resources include this brochure at: 50 year old by the time you’re 25. It’s They’re your ears www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/noise up to you to protect your hearing! Formable Premolded Earplugs

National Hearing Conservation Association: Identify noisy tasks around your farm and www.hearingconservation.org shop that may be harmful to your hearing. Protect them

National Agricultural Safety Database Wear hearing protection Hearing Conservation: www.cdc.gov/nasd/menu/topic/hearing.html at all times whenever you are exposed to loud noise. National Institutes of Health WISE EARS! Campaign Canal Caps Earmuffs Resources: www.nidcd.nih/gov/health/wise/index.asp Make hearing protection convenient . Stash earplugs in your pockets every morning when Dangerous Decibels: www.dangerousdecibels.org you grab your cell phone and keys. Hang University of Kentucky Agricultural Disability Awareness and canal caps or muffs on your tractor steering Risk Education (AgDARE) NIHL Resources: wheel, combine and lawn mower. www.mc.uky.edu/scahip/projects/agdare-2.htm

American Tinnitus Association: www.ata.org Reduce equipment noise by replacing worn, loose or unbalanced machine parts. Keep Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers equipment well lubricated and maintained. (a non-profit group that educates young people about the If you have been meaning to replace that loud There are hundreds of different styles of hearing dangers of exposure to loud music): www.hearnet.com protectors to choose from today. Everyone can tractor muffler, do it now. find one that is convenient, easy to use, Hearing Loss Caused Acknowledgments: comfortable and fits his or her budget. Writer/Editor: Barbara Mulhern, Agricultural Journalist Limit your exposure to loud noise. Stay Document Advisory Group: Thomas Bean, The Ohio State University “Hunter's” or “shooter's” muffs may work well by Farm Noise is and NIOSH Great Lakes Center for Agricultural Safety and Health; away from noisy equipment if you don’t for you. Hearing protectors are available on the Deborah Reed, University of Kentucky; Sam Steel, Pennsylvania Preventable State University need to be near it. Keep cab doors and internet and in local home improvement and windows closed. farm stores. For additional copies, questions, or comments related to this brochure, e-mail [email protected] Have your hearing tested by a health care Only trust your ears to products designed as hearing protectors. Cotton balls and other make To receive other NIOSH documents or for more information about provider if you or someone else suspects occupational safety and health topics, contact: a problem. Your family or friends may be the shift protectors can let noise pass right through. 1–800–CDC–INFO(1–800–232–4636) first to notice that your hearing is slipping. TTY: 1–888–232–6348 E-mail: [email protected] “Getting used to wearing my earplugs was or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh. en away from Keep childr like getting used to my favorite boots noisy areas and equipment. For a monthly update on news at NIOSH, subscribe to even after getting a good fit, NIOSH eNewsby visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews. it still took a little time .”

DHHS – (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007–175 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES The best protectors are the ones Centers for Disease Control and Prevention you will wear all the time you are National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health around loud noise. TM