Adolescents Green Wave Fact Sheet

Fact Sheet
A: Wave

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®

HOW CAN LOUD NOISES HARM YOUR HEARING? y

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O

ould you agree that it’s a noisy planet? Every day, you hear sounds at school, home, concerts, and
sporting events. Sometimes, these sounds are at a level that won’t damage your hearing. But sounds
can be harmful when they are too loud, even for a short time, or when they are both loud and long
lasting. These sounds can damage your hearing cells and cause noise-induced hearing loss.

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n
i
t
s
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T

How does noise-induced hearing loss happen? Your hearing cells are damaged every time you are in a loud place or too close to
loud noises. It doesn’t matter if the noise lasts for just a little bit of time; any amount of time spent around noises that are too
loud can cause damage. The damage to hearing cells builds over time and is permanent.

Even if you can’t tell that you’re damaging your hearing right away, you could have trouble hearing in the future, because noiseinduced hearing loss can build over time. But here’s the good news: noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of hearing loss that
is completely preventable. How can you protect your ears? First, know which sounds around you can harm your hearing.

What sounds may be harmful?

Sound is measured in decibels (dB), and any sound at or above 85 decibels can damage your hearing. You may be surprised at
some of the sounds that are in this danger zone.

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f

• Music from your headphones or earbuds. Up to 105 decibels! Personal electronic devices turned up all the way can
reach levels that damage your ears. Lower the volume.
• The lawnmower. 90 decibels! Be sure to use sound-blocking earmuffs. You can still do your chores, make your parents
happy, and protect your hearing!
• A music concert. Up to 110 decibels! To protect your hearing but still enjoy the concert, bring earplugs. You’ll still hear the
music, and you’ll have a better time without worrying about ringing in your ears after the concert.
• Sporting events. 95 to 140 decibels! Loud crowds at football games, noise at auto races, and other loud events may
damage your hearing. Take along your earplugs.

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How can I protect my hearing?

The more time you spend in a noisy place, and the closer you are to the loud sounds, the more you risk permanent hearing
damage. With three simple actions, you can protect your hearing:
• Lower the volume. Turn down the sound on electronic devices.
• Move away from the noise. Simply walk away, if that is possible.
• Wear hearing protectors. Use earplugs or earmuffs if you can’t leave a noisy place.
Remember, noise-induced hearing loss is the only form of hearing loss that is completely preventable. If you develop
healthy habits now, you can help protect your amazing sense of hearing. Check out more tips and activities at
www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.

www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov

Fact Sheet A: Wave

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
National Institute on Deafness and Communication Disorders
Draft for Testing Only

2

1

2

3
4

Noisy Crossword Puzzle
This crossword puzzle is all about noise. At the end of
some of the clues is the decibel level—or loudness—of a
particular noise.

5

6

10

9
11

Across
3. A yard tool used to clean up fallen leaves is a

8

7

12
13

.

(105 decibels)
4. A machine used to blow your hair dry is a

.

14

(80–90 decibels)

15

5. The button or knob used to keep sound at a safe level is the

16

control.
7. Hearing loss caused by sounds that are too loud and that last

-induced hearing loss.

9. Talking quietly so that only one person can hear is

8. Hearing protectors that fit on your head and make you look

. (30 decibels)
12. Hearing protectors that fit inside your ears are
13. A popular car sport is

like a disc jockey are

.

10. Loss of hearing from too much noise can be

. (140 decibels)

15. An event attended by music fans is a

.

11. A unit of measure that describes the intensity, or loudness, of

16. The part of your body that helps you hear is the

.

6. A grasscutter for a yard is a

a sound is the
Graham Bell.)

. (Hint: It is named for Alexander

14. The part of your ear that vibrates when loud sound

Down
2. Talking in a voice that is too loud is

.

(Hint: It is the opposite of temporary.)

(110 decibels)

1. A farm vehicle for field work is a

.

. (100 decibels)
. (115 decibels)
. (90 decibels)

reaches it is the
the same name.)

. (Hint: A band instrument has

Answers: 1. tractor 2. yelling 3. leafblower 4. blowdryer 5. volume
6. lawnmower 7. noise 8. earmuffs 9. whispering 10. permanent 11. decibel
12. earplugs 13. racing 14. drum 15. concert 16. ear

too long is

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) sponsors It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing. This
national public education campaign is designed to increase awareness among parents of children ages 8 to 12 (tweens) about the causes and
prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). With this information, parents and other adults can encourage children to adopt healthy hearing
habits before and during the time that they develop listening, leisure, and working habits. To find out more about how to protect your hearing and
that of your family, visit the Noisy Planet website at www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.

For more information about your hearing and hearing loss, contact:
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
Voice: (800) 241-1044
TTY: (800) 241-1055
Fax: (301) 770-8977
E-mail: NPInfo@nidcd.nih.gov

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
NIH Publication No. 09–6431C
October 2009
Reprinted October 2014

The Noisy Planet logo is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Fact Sheet A: Wave

Draft for Testing Only

3

Fact Sheet
B: Icon

4

How can loud noises
®

harm your hearing?

www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov

Preteens

w

ould you agree that it’s a noisy planet? Every day, you hear sounds at school, home, concerts, and sporting
events. Sometimes, these sounds are at a level that won’t damage your hearing. But sounds can be harmful
when they are too loud, even for a short time, or when they are both loud and long lasting. These sounds
can damage your hearing cells and cause noise-induced hearing loss.

How does noise-induced hearing loss happen? Your hearing cells are damaged every time you are in a loud place or too close
to loud noises. It doesn’t matter if the noise lasts for just a little bit of time; any amount of time spent around noises that are
too loud can cause damage. The damage to hearing cells builds over time and is permanent.
Even if you can’t tell that you’re damaging your hearing right away, you could have trouble hearing in the future, because
noise-induced hearing loss can build over time. But here’s the good news: noise-induced hearing loss is the only type of
hearing loss that is completely preventable. How can you protect your ears? First, know which sounds around you can harm
your hearing.

What sounds may be harmful?
Sound is measured in decibels (dB), and any sound at or above 85 decibels can damage
your hearing. You may be surprised at some of the sounds that are in this danger zone.

• Music from your headphones or earbuds. Up to 105 decibels! Personal electronic
devices turned up all the way can reach levels that damage your ears. Lower
the volume.

• The lawnmower. 90 decibels! Be sure to use sound-blocking earmuffs. You can still do
your chores, make your parents happy, and protect your hearing!

• A music concert. Up to 110 decibels! To protect your hearing but still enjoy the
concert, bring earplugs. You’ll still hear the music, and you’ll have a better time
without worrying about ringing in your ears after the concert.
• Sporting events. 95 to 140 decibels! Loud crowds at football games, noise at auto
races, and other loud events may damage your hearing. Take along your earplugs.

How can I protect my hearing?
The more time you spend in a noisy place, and the closer you are to the loud sounds, the
more you risk permanent hearing damage. With three simple actions, you can protect your
hearing:

• Lower the volume. Turn down the sound on electronic devices.
• Move away from the noise. Simply walk away, if that is possible.
• Wear hearing protectors. Use earplugs or earmuffs if you can’t leave a noisy place.
Remember, noise-induced hearing loss is the only form of hearing loss that is completely
preventable. If you develop healthy habits now, you can help protect your amazing sense
of hearing. Check out more tips and activities at www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • National Institutes of Health • National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Fact Sheet B: Icon

Draft for Testing Only

5

Noisy Crossword Puzzle
This crossword puzzle is all about noise. At the end of some of the clues is the decibel level—or loudness—of a particular noise.
1

2

3
4

5

6
8

7
10

9
11

12
13

14
15
16

Down

Across

1. A farm vehicle for field work is a

.

(105 decibels)

4. A machine used to blow your hair dry is a

2. Talking in a voice that is too loud is

.

(80–90 decibels)

6. A grasscutter for a yard is a

like a disc jockey are

control.

(Hint: It is the opposite of temporary.)

-induced hearing loss.

9. Talking quietly so that only one person can hear is

.

(30 decibels)

13. A popular car sport is

.

16. The part of your body that helps you hear is the

11. A unit of measure that describes the intensity, or loudness, of

a sound is the
Graham Bell.)

. (110 decibels)
.

reaches it is the
the same name.)

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
(NIDCD) sponsors It’s a Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing. This national
public education campaign is designed to increase awareness among parents of
children ages 8 to 12 about the causes and prevention of noise-induced hearing
loss (NIHL). With this information, parents and other adults can encourage
children to adopt healthy hearing habits before and during the time that they
develop listening, leisure, and working habits. To find out more about how to
protect your hearing and that of your family, visit the Noisy Planet website at:
www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov.

. (Hint: It is named for Alexander

. (Hint: A band instrument has

For more information about your hearing and hearing loss, contact:
NIDCD Information Clearinghouse
1 Communication Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20892-3456
Voice: (800) 241-1044
TTY: (800) 241-1055
Fax: (301) 770-8977
E-mail: NPInfo@nidcd.nih.gov
NIH Publication No. 10–6433
October 2010
Reprinted October 2014

The Noisy Planet logo is a registered trademark of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®
Fact Sheet B: Icon

.

14. The part of your ear that vibrates when loud sound

. (140 decibels)

15. An event attended by music fans is a

.

10. Loss of hearing from too much noise can be

7. Hearing loss caused by sounds that are too loud and that last

12. Hearing protectors that fit inside your ears are

. (115 decibels)
. (90 decibels)

8. Hearing protectors that fit on your head and make you look

5. The button or knob used to keep sound at a safe level is the

too long is

. (100 decibels)

Answers: 1. tractor 2. yelling 3. leafblower 4. blowdryer 5. volume
6. lawnmower 7. noise 8. earmuffs 9. whispering 10. permanent 11. decibel
12. earplugs 13. racing 14. drum 15. concert 16. ear

3. A yard tool used to clean up fallen leaves is a

Draft for Testing Only

6

Picture of
Possible
Web Page
A: Wave

7

Picture of Possible Web Page A: Wave

Draft for Testing Only

8

Picture of
Possible
Web Page
B: Icon

9

Picture of Possible Web Page B: Icon

Draft for Testing Only

10