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Horizontal American Otological Society graphic with a thick red border, white background and navy text. At the top: “#ProtectYourHearingMonth.” On the left, a baby outdoors in a gray outfit looks toward the camera while wearing large green-and-black hearing-protection earmuffs. On the right are four bullets: “Noise-Induced Hearing Loss is Preventable”; “How Loud Are Everyday Sounds?”; “How Can Noise Hurt Us?”; and “Learn from AOS Experts.” The American Otological Society logo appears at the lower right.

Protect Your Hearing: How Loud Is Too Loud?

October is National Protect Your Hearing Month. From concerts and sporting events to lawnmowers and everyday headphones, loud sounds are part of our lives and noise is a leading environmental nuisance. Exposure to sounds that are too loud, too close or last too long can permanently damage hearing.

Noise-induced hearing loss is very real and very preventable. There are simple steps we can take to protect our hearing at every age.

How Loud Is Too Loud?

Square American Otological Society infographic with a thick red border titled “How Loud Are Everyday Sounds?” and the credit “Source: NIH / NIDCD.” Four rows pair red circular icons with text. Speech bubbles: “60–70dBA. Normal conversation. Generally safe, even with prolonged exposure.” Lawnmower: “80–100dBA. Lawnmowers. Prolonged exposure at higher levels can damage hearing.” Cheering crowd with a music note: “94–110dBA. Concerts / sporting events. We strongly advise hearing protection.” Fireworks: “140–160dBA. Fireworks. Protect your ears. Can cause instantaneous and permanent damage.” American Otological Society logo at the bottom.Sound is measured in decibels (dB). According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) can cause hearing loss.

The louder the sound, the less time it takes for damage to occur.

Consider these common sounds:

  • Normal conversation: 60–70 dBA
  • Lawnmowers: 80–100 dBA
  • Concerts and sporting events: 94–110 dBA
  • Fireworks: 140–160 dBA

You may be exposed to damaging noise if you need to shout to be heard by someone an arm’s length away, experience ear pain or notice ringing or buzzing in your ears.

Exposure time matters, too. Under guidelines from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), recommended daily occupational exposure is limited to one hour at 94 dBA, 15 minutes at 100 dBA and less than two minutes at 109 dBA.

These are occupational recommendations, not precise predictions of when hearing damage occurs. We strongly advise hearing protection at concerts and sporting events. Fireworks can cause immediate and permanent hearing damage, even with brief exposure.

Hearing damage can develop gradually, making it difficult to recognize until hearing loss becomes noticeable.

Noise Can Affect More Than Hearing

Square American Otological Society infographic with a thick red border titled “How Can Noise Hurt Us?” and the credit “Source: Hearing Health Foundation.” Four rows pair red circular icons with text. Crescent moon with Zs: “30–35dB. Sleep disruption, especially if noise is not continuous.” Open book: “45dB. Disturbance of concentration and interference with learning.” Heart with a heartbeat line: “55dB. Non-auditory negative health effects could include high blood pressure, trouble sleeping and concentrating.” Two speech bubbles: “70–75dB. Interference with speech comprehension for those with typical hearing.” American Otological Society logo at the bottom.Noise can affect everyday life even at levels below those typically associated with permanent hearing loss.

Hearing Health Foundation (HHF) highlights effects on sleep, concentration, learning and speech comprehension.

Depending on the level and duration of exposure, non-auditory health effects could include high blood pressure, trouble sleeping and difficulty concentrating.

These effects are distinct from the risk of permanent noise-induced hearing loss.



Three Ways to Protect Your Hearing

The NIDCD recommends three practical steps:

  • Lower the volume: Keep personal listening devices, televisions and other audio equipment at comfortable levels.
  • Move away from loud sounds: Increase your distance from speakers, machinery and other sources of excessive noise.
  • Wear hearing protection: Use properly fitted earplugs or protective earmuffs at concerts, sporting events, fireworks displays and other noisy activities.

Children also benefit from hearing protection. Parents and caregivers can help establish healthy hearing habits early by modeling safe listening practices and making hearing protection readily available.

Learn More From AOS Experts

At the American Otological Society’s 158th Annual Meeting in New Orleans in 2025, a panel of specialists presented “The Sound of Silence: A Comprehensive Discussion on Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.”

Watch the recorded discussion to learn more about the science of noise-induced hearing loss, its clinical implications and approaches to prevention and management.





The discussion examined the causes and underlying mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss, approaches to measuring noise exposure, hearing protection and treatment.

The panel was introduced by then-AOS President William H. Slattery III, MD.

Co-moderators:

  • Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD
  • Quyen Nguyen, MD, PhD


Panelists:

  • Anne Morgan Selleck, MD
  • Hamid Djalilian, MD
  • Isaac D. Erbele, MD

Recognizing Hearing Loss and Seeking Care

Square American Otological Society graphic with a thick red border and white background. Large navy quotation at the top: “You cannot ignore this symptom. You need to be evaluated.” The name “Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD” appears beneath the quote. A centered headshot shows a woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a red collared shirt against a gray background. Beneath the portrait: “Not All Hearing Loss Is The Same” and “The Washington Post | Oct. 1, 2026.” The American Otological Society logo appears at the bottom.While noise-induced hearing loss is preventable, hearing loss can have many different causes.

Recognizing changes in hearing and seeking appropriate evaluation are important steps toward identifying the cause and available treatment options.

In an Oct. 1, 2026, article in The Washington Post, AOS Fellow Konstantina Stankovic, MD, PhD, Chair of Otolaryngology and practicing otologist-neurotologist and auditory neuroscientist at Stanford University, emphasized the importance of evaluating hearing loss:

“You cannot ignore this symptom. You need to be evaluated.”

The article explores different types of hearing loss, how they are diagnosed and the treatments that may help.

Read “Not all hearing loss is the same. Here’s what can help” in The Washington Post.

Additional Resources

For more information about hearing health and protecting your hearing, explore resources from the NIDCD and Hearing Health Foundation:


Protecting your hearing today can help preserve it for years tocome.