Washington D.C. Sponsored by the Deafness Research Foundation, the NCHH is committed to putting hearing health on the national agenda. As a way of stepping up that effort, the NCHH is launching a Toxic Noise Initiative on Tuesday. As part of the program, the NCHH is giving away free earplugs donated by Howard Leight Industries. Sounds exceeding this level have the potential to permanently damage your hearing. Fireworks and firecrackers produce impulsive sounds ranging from 130 to 190 decibels, well above what is considered safe.
Gunshots are equally dangerous.
We hear through highly sensitive and extremely fragile cells in the ear called hair cells. Sitting on top of this membrane is the organ for hearing, known as the organ of Corti. Inside, are 30,000 nerves or hair cells. When loud sound comes in, this basilar membrane moves fairly violently, and as it moves these nerves or hair cells actually get sheared, torn away. Normally, this creates some protection for the cochlea, but this mechanism needs 150 milliseconds to trigger.