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The Daily Insight

What should the sound level be to prevent hearing loss?

Author

Matthew Barrera

Published May 06, 2026

What should the sound level be to prevent hearing loss?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend maintaining environmental noises below 70 dBA over 24-hours (75 dBA over 8-hours) to prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Is it safe to listen to loud noises for a long time?

If you are exposed to loud sounds on a regular basis, your risk for permanent damage increases over time. Even a single but long-lasting loud event can cause damage. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are usually considered safe, even if they last a long time. Noises are more likely to damage your hearing if they are: 85 dBA and last a few hours.

How does the level of noise affect your hearing?

The extent of damage to your hearing caused by noise depends on: Decibel level: How loud the sound is. Distance: How close you are to the source of the sound. Time: The length of time you are exposed to the sound. The louder the sound, the more damage it can cause to your hearing, and the quicker this damage will occur.

How often should you listen to the listening level test?

There are four questions on each part. Listen to part 1, then answer the first four questions. Then, listen to part 2, answer the next four questions, and so on. You can listen to the files more than once if you need. However, try NOT to listen to the files more than 3 times.

What’s the highest sound level you can hear?

Anything in this degree might provide you with a sound criticism from the neighbors. 101-125 dB: 110 decibels and above is the level where other sounds can not truly be heard. Aircraft takeoff, trains, and quite loudly concerts would fall to the 110+ decibel level. 126+ dB: 125 decibels is where sound really begins to get painful.

How are the levels of noise related to hearing?

The effects of noise on hearing vary among people. Some people’s ears are more sensitive to loud sounds, To express levels of sound meaningfully in numbers that are more manageable, a logarithmic scale is used, rather than a linear one. This scale is the decibel scale.

Can you listen to TV at a different volume than everyone?

If your hearing isn’t as good as it used to be, chances are you have to crank up the volume on your TV to a level that’s uncomfortable for everyone else. If that’s the case, there’s a very simple way that you can enjoy watching TV at a volume you can easily hear while everyone else listens at a normal volume.

What’s the lowest decibel level you can hear?

0-30 dB: Most human adults can’t hear sounds under 0 decibels. Most sound within this range is practically inaudible. Sounds that produce decibel levels between 0 and 30 comprise whispers as well as the ticking of a watch. 31-45 dB: Here is the decibel level of silent sounds.