Reader's Digest - USA (2019-08)

READER’S DIGEST

A

ll sounds that are louder

than 85 decibels – from

lawnmowers to heav y

traffic and blaring music

• are a threat to your
  hearing, especially if your exposure
  is long or repeated. That’s because
  loud sounds can injure or destroy
  hair cells in your inner ear that are
  involved in sending sound signals to
  yourbrain.

Sound

Advice

How to protect

your hearing

by Samantha Rideout

PHOTO: GET T Y IMAGES

The louder the noise, the less time

you can be near to its source before

it causes damage. Since most of us

don’t carry decibel meters around,

you can rely instead on this rule of

thumb: if you are required to raise

your voice to be heard by someone

standing an arm’s length away

then there’s potential for harm.

Ideally, either reduce the noise, go

to a quieter environment or wear

HEALTH

20 august 2019