Teachers deal with a lot: from budget cuts to overcrowded classrooms. According to experts, they are also exposed to occupational conditions that put them at risk of hearing loss. Continue reading to learn what teachers can do to protect their hearing health while working in the classroom.
How Loud Is Too Loud?
Sounds are measured in decibels (dB). Anything more than 85 dB can cause permanent damage to the delicate hairs within the inner ear. These hair cells are responsible for converting soundwaves into electrical impulses, which are sent via the auditory nerve to the brain where they are interpreted as sound.
Below is a look at the average decibel rating of some familiar sounds put together by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders:
- Normal conversation: 60-70 dB
- Movie theater: 74-104 dB
- Motorcycles and dirt bikes: 80-110 dB
- Sporting events and concerts: 94-110 dB
- Sirens: 110-129 dB
- Fireworks show: 140-160 dB
According to a survey of teachers, 94% said their classroom was too loud and 65% reported hearing issues, including tinnitus. Experts estimate that most classrooms can measure as high as 85 dB – the threshold for sounds that can cause permanent hearing loss.
What Teachers Can Do
Here are just a few tips teachers can follow to protect their hearing health.
Address the Acoustics
Classrooms are filled with hard surfaces, from the tile floors to the bare windows. This creates excessive reverberance and adds to the noise level. Absorbent surfaces such as rugs, curtains, corkboards and felt art projects can help lower the noise levels.
Recognize Hearing Challenges
Are there areas of the school or events in the day when hearing is harder? Perhaps the old HVAC system is too loud when it first turns on. Once this roadblock is identified, you can work around it. Instead of speaking louder or turning up the volume of the educational program, you may want to just wait for the HVAC system to change cycles before continuing with your lesson.
Speak with Others
There is always a teacher who has been at Rancho Santa Fe Schools longer than you. If you find your classroom is too loud, try asking around. Teachers are resourceful, and there is a good chance another teacher has a few tricks up their sleeve. To learn more about keeping your hearing safe while in the classroom or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert or learn more about hearing protection, contact Rancho Santa Fe Audiology today.
