7 of the Worst Jobs For your Hearing

Loud, painful, and hectic. These are three of the words you will often find associated with the top jobs that can cause hearing loss or damage. In fact, in the USA, exposure to hazardous levels of noise is one of the most common work-related illnesses. Extended exposure to high decibels can cause damage to your hearing and the eventual loss of it. Researched by the team at Yourhearing.com, here are the top seven jobs that are worst for your hearing and the number of decibels (on average) that they produce.

Noise and NIHL

Before we look at the jobs that can cause damage to your hearing, it is first important to look at NIHL, which stands for noise induced hearing loss. This can be caused very suddenly, or over a long period of time and exposure to the noise in question. It can happen to anyone at any age.
It could be caused by a very sudden sound, such as a gunshot or explosion, or it could be the result of years of work in a loud environment (such as one of the occupations below).
NIHL is caused by the ‘death’ of the hair cells that line the ear bouncing sound between each other on its way through the ear canal. Unlike in birds and amphibians, these hairs do not grow back in humans, and so once they are ‘dead’ they are gone for good.

1. Racing Driver

Driving race cars often looks like incredibly fun work, but this job exposes the racing drivers up to a massive 140 decibels every time they loop around the tracks at high speeds. Of course, the drivers and all of the team members that work on the tracks and cars are equipped with specialist hearing guards, but these do not always full protect. Interestingly, miners are exposed to the same level of sound when using power tools in spatially restricted areas.

2. Agriculture

Gardeners and farmers should always make sure their ears are protected when they are out at work. The lifestyle may seem relaxing and beautiful, but the noise levels are often intense. Gardeners are usually exposed to around 107 decibels when using mowers and other garden equipment.
Farmers, however, receive around 112 decibels in their line of work. This is due to the large vehicles and machinery used. In fact, recent studies show that by the age of 30, 25% of male farmers suffer from hearing loss.
Although regular maintenance of equipment such as fixing mufflers on engines, it’s always recommended to use high quality earmuffs with a high NRR (noise reduction rating).

3. Military and Emergency Services

For those who work in the emergency services (so fire, ambulance, and police), it is normal to be exposed to around 110 decibels on a normal day. Interestingly, the bin men who drive and operate the large trucks are exposed to the same levels of noise each day.
In the military, those who serve in combat are expected to experience 140 decibels due to explosions and other loud noises. 65% of the servicemen and women who returned from Afghanistan suffered from hearing loss due to the noise levels experienced.
For everyday use, expandable ear plugs are a great choice if exposure to noise is expected over long periods.

4. Nursery Teacher

Children are incredibly loud, especially when they are at nursery age. For those teaching them, it can be a literal headache due to all the screaming and excitement. On average, they experience 85 decibels during the day.
However, studies undertaken in schools have shown the range can vary between 40 and 105 decibels, with the higher frequency in the voices of younger children more likely to cause hearing loss or damage.
Ear plugs with a lower NRR rating and filters could allow some relief, while still allowing adequate hearing throughout the day.

5. Hairdresser

In 2015, this was deemed the least stressful job out there and was in fact called relaxing. It’s easy to see why, but there is a risk to the hearing of those that work in the salons. Hairdryers and other electrical appliances used creates around 85 decibels every time they are used. While these items are only really used in short bursts, damage can accumulate over time.
Like nursery teachers, it would be unlikely that you’d be wearing anything other than ear plugs if you find the daily noise becoming too much. Prolonged exposure is unlikely but filtered ear plugs available from most pharmacies can help reduce the effects.

6. Construction

This is often the first job that pops into people’s minds when they think of jobs that cause hearing loss or damage. This one ranks quite high, with 90 decibels of sound created (often constantly) throughout the day.
In fact, it has been noted that hearing loss can start to occur after only one day of work on a site with a machine that produces this level of sound. While the majority of workers are sensible and wear protection for their ears, damage can still accumulate over time. 
It's common to see earmuffs being worn on building sites and these should be provided by most employers when exposed to prolonged levels of noise from machinery. Again, the higher the NRR level, the better the protection offered.

7. Air Traffic Controller

One of the noisiest jobs on the list, an air traffic controller is frequently exposed to 140 decibels multiple times a day. The ground control staff and traffic controllers are the most exposed to loud noises.
While the 140 decibels are average, some jet planes produce 190 decibels – which causes instant damage to hearing. Of course, staff are provided with the necessary protective gear to protect their hearing as much as possible.
It’s unlikely you’d ever see an air traffic controller without ear protection. Air traffic controllers will have the highest NRR muffs available and often with built in microphone. Although earmuffs offer the best protection, it’s not uncommon to see some airport workers wearing ear pieces like the one’s found at Avery sound.

Protecting Yourself at Work

Of course, it is still possible to protect your ears while you are working in a loud environment. The vast majority of industrial jobs (including air traffic controllers and race car drivers) provide employees with protective headsets that have been specially designed to reduce the amount of damage caused significantly. They tend to be noise-cancelling, removing all the surrounding sounds, and they fit securely around the ear to prevent any noise leakage. The brands and types used tend to vary from profession to profession, but the basic purpose remains the same across them all.
Of course, if you are working in one of the more social professions such as teaching or hairdressing, then it can be a little trickier as wearing specialised protective headphones wouldn’t be appropriate. However, it is possible to purchase small earbuds that have filters inside them. These will allow you to hear what people are saying, but reduce the background noise significantly, protecting your ears from increased damage. They can be very useful to have on hand.
Hopefully, you have found this guide useful as well as interesting when it comes to learning which jobs are the worst for your hearing. With decibel production ranging from 85 to 190, it is important to remember that the correct protective gear could really save your hearing.

Guest Post Info: 

Robert @ Yourhearing.com

I'm currently working on several projects within the hearing aid & audiology industry, primarily helping hearing aid companies embrace the digital age by providing actionable advice and awareness of many ear related health issues

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