Play It Safe With Your Ears. Play It Safe With Your Health.

For Middle 

School Students

Say What?
Dear Student:

Noise is defined as any unwanted or disagreeable sound. Noise is all around you and may 

be polluting the environment where you live, learn, and play. Noise in your environment can 

become harmful when it interferes with your normal activities, such as sleeping or talking, 

or when it affects your health, such as your ability to hear.

There are sounds that you enjoy and may not consider to be noise, like the music of your 

favorite band or musician. When you listen to the music of your favorite band or musician, 

you may crank up the volume and listen to it for hours. This is when it can potentially 

become harmful. The louder the sound and the longer you listen to it, the more likely it is 

that damage will occur to your hearing. 

Damage to your ears should not be your only concern. Noise can not only harm your 

hearing—it can also make it hard to concentrate while reading or doing homework, make 

you frustrated, prevent you from falling asleep, and make it hard to communicate with your 

family and friends. It is important that you learn about noise and how to identify when it is 

harmful to you and others.

There are steps you can take to protect your hearing and your health from the effects 

of loud sound, such as turning down the volume, wearing hearing 

protectors such as earplugs or earmuffs, and making your 

environment noise-free. This booklet will provide you with 

information on noise and steps to take to protect yourself from 

the harmful effects of noise.

You only have one pair of ears, so treat them well by 

protecting them from noise. 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Air and Radiation

Keep Your Hearing Healthy
What happens inside the ear when you hear sounds?

Your ears are amazing 

instruments! Each ear is 

divided into three parts: the 

outer ear, middle ear, and 

inner ear. The three parts 

work together so you can 

hear sound. 

• Hearing starts at the outer

ear, which carries sound 

from the air through the 

ear canal to the eardrum. 

• The eardrum vibrates, 

which causes three bones 

(malleus, incus, and stapes) 

in the middle ear to move 

mechanically. 

• The middle ear sends 

mechanical vibrations to the 

inner ear (cochlea) where 

they are picked up by hair 

cells, which send electrical 

impulses to the brain.

The tiny hair cells in the inner ear are very important. Why? Because 

when those hair cells are damaged, they do not heal and can cause 

hearing loss. Think of hair cells as blades of grass. When you walk on 

grass the blades spring back up but if you walk over them too much, 

the blades stop springing back, and the grass flattens out. The same 

thing happens in your ears when you listen to sounds that are too loud 

for a long time—they may damage the tiny hair cells in your inner ears.
What Is Too Loud?

Sound is measured in units called 

decibels (des-uh-bels). The greater 

the number of decibels, the louder 

the sound and the more harmful it is 

to your ears. The sound thermometer 

gives you an idea of how loud some 

sounds are. If you are exposed to 

sound at 85 decibels and above, it 

may harm your hearing.

Sound Thermometer

Harmful to Hearing

(courtesy of Dangerous Decibels)
Protect Your Hearing!

Noise is everywhere—at home, school, and even at fun activities—and 

some noise can reach potentially damaging levels. As you learned earlier, too much noise 

can be bad for you, and prolonged exposure to sound at 85 decibels and above can harm 

your hearing. If you can avoid noise that is too loud, you should, but if you have to be 

around noise that is loud, you should wear hearing protectors.

What are hearing protectors?

Hearing protectors are devices, such as earplugs or earmuffs, that are worn to reduce the 

level of sound entering your ears. 

EARPLUGS are inserted into the ear canals, and EARMUFFS are 

worn over the ears. Both earplugs and earmuffs come in different 

styles, colors, and sizes. Be sure that your earplugs or earmuffs are 

child-size, to fit your ears or your head.

When should you wear hearing protectors?

Hearing protectors should be worn when you are exposed to sound 

that is 85 decibels and above. Use the sound thermometer on the 

previous page to judge the sound level of noise sources in your life.

Hearing protectors should be worn: 

At home

• mowing the lawn

• around someone who is operating power tools

At school

• school band or band class

• sporting events, such as football or basketball games

• cheerleading competition

At play

• video games

• music concert

• fireworks show

• car races

• hunting

Earplugs

Earmuffs
While at play, the sound is too loud if:

• You can’t hear the person next to you

• It shakes or vibrates your body

• You hear a ringing sound in your ears after exposure to loud sounds

While at school, noise can cause you to:

• Have trouble concentrating

• Become frustrated when you can’t hear

• Not think clearly

• Have difficulty hearing your teacher and classmates

Noise can harm more than just your hearing; it can also cause harm to your health. While at 

home, school, or play, think quiet...to keep your ears and health from being harmed by noise.

Think Quiet!

While at home, noise can cause problems like:

• Trouble sleeping

• Headaches

• Trouble concentrating on your homework

• Difficulty hearing your family members
a c a r n e l a unscrambles to ear canal.

i o n e s unscrambles to noise.

a g a e d m unscrambles to damage.

r m d a r u e unscrambles to eardrum.

i n t r t o c p o e unscrambles to protection.

i t l e n s unscrambles to listen.

e t u q i unscrambles to quiet.

n u d s s o unscrambles to sounds.

d o l u unscrambles to loud.

h l a c e o c unscrambles to cochlea.

e u o a t r e r unscrambles to outerear.

e i d l e c b unscrambles to decibel.

Word Scramble

Unscramble the letters below to find words that relate to sound and your hearing.
Test Your Noise Knowledge

Across

1. Sound is carried through the ear canal 

to the __________.

4. Earplugs and earmuffs are also know 

as hearing __________.

5. The greater the number of decibels, 

the __________ the sound.

9. Loud sounds can be __________ to 

your hearing.

10. Hair __________ do not heal once they 

are damaged.

12. Hearing starts at the __________ ear.

13. An __________ is a certified 

professional who evaluates how well 

you hear sound.

17. Each ear has __________ main parts.

18. __________ at 85 decibels and above 

can harm your hearing.

Down

2. __________ are hearing protectors that 

are inserted into the ear canals.

3. Sound causes the eardrum to 

__________.

6. Turn down the __________ on your 

television, video game, or music 

player.

7. The middle ear sends __________ 

vibrations to the cochlea.

8. Sound is measured in units called 

__________.

11. Any unwanted or disagreeable sound 

is defined as __________.

14. The three bones—malleus, incus, 

and stapes—are located in the 

__________ ear.

15. Homework and studying should be 

done in a __________ place.

16. __________ in the ears can be a sign 

that you have been exposed to loud 

sounds.

19. Noise can harm your hearing and your 

__________.

20. The cochlea is located in the 

__________ ear.

That’s Too Loud!

Sound at 85 decibels and above can harm your hearing. To prevent damage to your hearing, 

you should avoid prolonged exposure to loud sounds or wear hearing protectors when 

possible. Circle the 9 photos below that show activities that might produce sound at 

85 decibels and above. Hint: use the sound thermometer to help identify the sound level.

Listening to music on your 

music player.

Birds singing in the trees. A clap of thunder. Mowing the lawn with a 

gas mower.

A garbage truck emptying 

trash cans.

Heavy traffic in the city. Whispering into your 

friends ear.

Rain falling on your umbrella.

A construction worker 

operating a jack hammer.

Playing an electric guitar. Watching fireworks. Playing video games.
Word Search

There are 20 words hidden in this word search that relate to sound and your hearing. 

Can you find them? Don’t forget to look up, down, forward, backward, and diagonal!

damage

decibels

eardrum

earplug

hair cells

hearing

inner ear

listen

loss

loud

middle ear

noise

outer ear

permanent

protection

quiet

sound

thermometer

traffic

whisper
OTOLARYNGOLOGIST [o-to-lar-en-ga-le-jist]

The otolaryngologist is a medical doctor who may look into your ears, 

nose, and throat, and give you medicine or recommend that you go 

to an audiologist for a complete hearing evaluation or rehabilitation 

(special training).

AUDIOLOGIST [o-de-a-le-jist]

The audiologist, a certified or licensed professional, may give you a 

complete hearing evaluation to measure your hearing abilities. If you 

have a hearing impairment, the audiologist will tell you how serious 

it is, what type it is, and what can be done to help you live with your 

hearing impairment. If you need it, the audiologist may recommend a 

hearing aid and help you select one.

You should see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms on a 

regular basis:

• Asking people to repeat themselves

• Hearing ringing, roaring, or hissing sounds after exposure to loud sounds

• Noticing that the volume on the television or radio is not high enough

• Straining to understand a conversation

The type of doctor that you will see for help is one of the following:

When Should You 

See A Doctor?
You Can Do It!

Start protecting your hearing and your 

health today!

• Homework and studying should be done in a quiet place.

• Turn down the volume on your television, video game, radio, and music player.

• Walk away from sound that is too loud.

• Wear hearing protectors while attending or participating in loud activities.

• Inform your parents or teacher when you are having difficulty hearing.

• If you hear a ringing sound in your ears after exposure to loud sounds, 

please tell your parents.

• Teach classmates, friends, and family about noise.

List other things you can do:

____________________________________ _________________________________

____________________________________ _________________________________

____________________________________ _________________________________

To learn more, visit 

www.epa.gov/air/noise.html

Other Resources:

www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/noise

www.dangerousdecibels.org

www.hearingconservation.org

www.listentoyourbuds.org

www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov
a c a r n e l a unscrambles to ear canal.

i o n e s unscrambles to noise.

a g a e d m unscrambles to damage.

r m d a r u e unscrambles to eardrum.

i n t r t o c p o e unscrambles to protection.

i t l e n s unscrambles to listen.

e t u q i unscrambles to quiet.

n u d s s o unscrambles to sounds.

d o l u unscrambles to loud.

h l a c e o c unscrambles to cochlea.

e u o a t r e r unscrambles to outerear.

e i d l e c b unscrambles to decibel.

Game Answers
Cut out the bookmark below. Use it to mark your page and to remind you of the sounds 

that can be harmful and how to protect your hearing and health.

What is Too Loud?

Sound at 85 decibels and 

above can harm your hearing.

www.dangerousdecibels.com

✂ Cut along the dotted line.
Office of Air and Radiation

Washington, D.C. 20460

EPA-410-F-09-002

www.epa.gov/air/noise.html

November 2009

Printed on 100% recycled/recyclable paper 

with a minimum 50% post-consumer 

waste, processed chlorine-free, using 

vegetable-based inks.

Protect

Your Hearing and 

Your Health!

Remember, not all sounds 

are harmful. But the louder 

the sound and the longer you 

listen to it, the more harmful it 

is to your ears and your health.

• Turn down the volume on 

your television, video game, 

radio, and music player.

• Walk away from sound that 

is too loud.

• Wear hearing protectors 

when needed.

• Tell your parents, a trusted 

adult, or a teacher when 

you can’t hear or if you hear 

a ringing sound in your 

ears after exposure to loud 

sounds.

Visit www.epa.gov/air/noise.html 

for more information.