3 ms·

">70db = cumulative harm" Wow, had no idea. Just looked it up and it's indeed correct. I had been going off the 85 db standard, which: 1. Is only for work exp

by graeme 7y ago

">70db = cumulative harm" Wow, had no idea. Just looked it up and it's indeed correct. I had been going off the 85 db standard, which: 1. Is only for work exposure, assuming quiet elsewhere 2. Will nonetheless cause hearing loss in 8% of people when at workplace levels over a lifetime of work. https://www.quietcommunities.org/noise-level-hearing-loss-prevention/ https://www.quietcommunities.org/noise-level-hearing-loss-pr...

ddingus 7y ago
My minor league loss is just from window down. I rarely combined it with earbuds. Glad you looked it up. IMHO, people should be better informed on this. A walk around with a sound meter app is very enlightening.
- graeme 7y ago
  Yeah I’ve been using the decibel X app on my phone to measure environments. Started wearing earplugs on some flights as a result, and bought some reuseable ones for my keychain in case of a sudden loud environment. (Eg being pulled into a club by friends) Am excited for ios 13, as it will bring noise detection to all apple watch and headphones. I think this will lead to more noise complaints in chronically loud environments, esp by workers. For headphones, a decent test is seeing whether you can still hear yourself talk.
  - ddingus 7y ago
    Flights are particularly bad at times. I am taking more care now myself. Portables on a keychain are a great idea!
    - graeme 7y ago
      These were the ones I got: https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PartyPlug-Plugs-Music-Environments/dp/B00REB9VTO/ https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PartyPlug-Plugs-Music-Environm... Iirc I selected them based on: 1. Reviews were decent 2. At least one person on hn had mentioned them 3. The carrying case is ultra compact One plastic thing on the case broke, but it still functions. I like that they're clear, a bit harder to see. For planes though I use the generic orange ones. I keep some in my travel bag at all times. The keychain ones are for unplanned situations I can't avoid. Though your 70 db link has got me wondering even about subways and trains. Is a two hour journey at ~85 db worth worrying about? I had assumed it wasn't based on osha. I'd use over ear headphones but it isn't clear to me how much they dampen, apart from the nrr rated industrial ones.
      - ddingus 7y ago
        It is cumulative. Each time, no real worry. Over 20 years it just happens. I noticed one day when listening to some signals. Levels, at some frequencies were different. Again, minor league. But, due to a few decades driving window down, it all did add up to a little something. Overall in my life, apart from that window business, I have taken good care. The highs are rolling off some now. Normal. Discrimination is still really good. But, I can now tell left ear from right. Thanks for the tip. I will have to get a set. So, you have to decide what is worth what. At my peak, I could hear well through 22khz. Today, I still hear very well, but range has dropped. 17khz or so. I do not care much. Discrimination, sensitivity related to things under 12khz is where all the good stuff is. Mostly normal aging. I have no worries. I can still often tell you who made a vintage watch by the sounds it makes. Music is still great! With a ton of work, I could have preserved more sensitivity, and a bit of range. But I have lived well too. You must evaluate these things and act or not, now. Hopefully, you have no worries aging up too.

by graeme 7y ago

ddingus 7y ago

My minor league loss is just from window down. I rarely combined it with earbuds. Glad you looked it up. IMHO, people should be better informed on this. A walk around with a sound meter app is very enlightening.

graeme 7y ago
Yeah I’ve been using the decibel X app on my phone to measure environments. Started wearing earplugs on some flights as a result, and bought some reuseable ones for my keychain in case of a sudden loud environment. (Eg being pulled into a club by friends) Am excited for ios 13, as it will bring noise detection to all apple watch and headphones. I think this will lead to more noise complaints in chronically loud environments, esp by workers. For headphones, a decent test is seeing whether you can still hear yourself talk.
- ddingus 7y ago
  Flights are particularly bad at times. I am taking more care now myself. Portables on a keychain are a great idea!
  - graeme 7y ago
    These were the ones I got: https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PartyPlug-Plugs-Music-Environments/dp/B00REB9VTO/ https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PartyPlug-Plugs-Music-Environm... Iirc I selected them based on: 1. Reviews were decent 2. At least one person on hn had mentioned them 3. The carrying case is ultra compact One plastic thing on the case broke, but it still functions. I like that they're clear, a bit harder to see. For planes though I use the generic orange ones. I keep some in my travel bag at all times. The keychain ones are for unplanned situations I can't avoid. Though your 70 db link has got me wondering even about subways and trains. Is a two hour journey at ~85 db worth worrying about? I had assumed it wasn't based on osha. I'd use over ear headphones but it isn't clear to me how much they dampen, apart from the nrr rated industrial ones.
    - ddingus 7y ago
      It is cumulative. Each time, no real worry. Over 20 years it just happens. I noticed one day when listening to some signals. Levels, at some frequencies were different. Again, minor league. But, due to a few decades driving window down, it all did add up to a little something. Overall in my life, apart from that window business, I have taken good care. The highs are rolling off some now. Normal. Discrimination is still really good. But, I can now tell left ear from right. Thanks for the tip. I will have to get a set. So, you have to decide what is worth what. At my peak, I could hear well through 22khz. Today, I still hear very well, but range has dropped. 17khz or so. I do not care much. Discrimination, sensitivity related to things under 12khz is where all the good stuff is. Mostly normal aging. I have no worries. I can still often tell you who made a vintage watch by the sounds it makes. Music is still great! With a ton of work, I could have preserved more sensitivity, and a bit of range. But I have lived well too. You must evaluate these things and act or not, now. Hopefully, you have no worries aging up too.