Hearing Protection
What's the Noise All About?
Noise is defined as any unwanted or unpleasant sound that can be harmful to human health or wellbeing. It is often characterized by its loudness, duration, and frequency.
Human hearing is incredibly sensitive; our ears can differentiate between 400,000 different sounds and detect sounds so subtle they make the eardrum vibrate less than 1/80,000,000th of an inch. However, this remarkable sensitivity isn't guaranteed for life – it requires care to maintain. In our society, noise is as much a part of our lives as the air we breathe. We're exposed to noise in our workplaces, at home, and during our recreational activities. Despite this, our ability to hear well provides few warnings when it's at risk.
Noise-induced hearing loss refers to hearing impairment resulting from exposure to excessive noise. The damage to hearing caused by loud environments, whether at work or during leisure activities, may not become apparent for many years. While hearing loss cannot be treated or cured, it is preventable.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
7-1. Approximately how many sounds can the human ear distinguish?
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