Article: Noise hurts hearing - invisibly

The sound and the fury are becoming louder and more furious. And our ears, not to mention our nerves, are bearing the brunt of an increasingly noisy world.

Personal stereos, computer printers, supersonic jets and answering machines' beeps are just a few of the newer ways we've devised to overload our hearing.

How much noise is too much? Not only does the answer vary from person to person, it varies from environment to environment.

In the workplace, for example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration says if the noise averages 90 decibels over an eight-hour shift, you have to wear ear protection. And in the area of an airport, new homes generally can't be built where the ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!