Top 10 Things That Cause Hearing Loss

Asteroids and comets can sometimes hit us, and some are larger than Everest. They strike with such force that, aside from the destructive danger they pose (such as mega tsunamis, firestorms, mega volcanoes, and dust-induced ice ages), they would also affect the atmosphere, causing extreme shock waves. Even on the other side of Earth, if you survived, you would suffer major hearing loss or ruptured eardrums.

Some sounds are enough to permanently deafen you and rupture your eardrums. An impact like the one that killed off the dinosaurs was enough to wipe out nearly all life on Earth, according to scientists. The fragment over Chelyabinsk, Russia, on February 15, 2013, blew up with 200 kilotons, meaning 255 dB at the source and 180 dB at ground level. This was enough to damage 7,200 buildings and injure 1,491 people. Thankfully, nobody was killed, though people suffered severe burns, cuts, and, of course, permanent and total hearing damage.

Bombs are made for defense and are known to be powerful due to the splitting of atomic bonds. The Hiroshima bomb was powerful enough to damage hearing 24 miles away and destroy the city of Hiroshima in just seconds, killing all 300,000 people. The largest bomb of all, the Tsar Bomba or King of the Bombs from Russia, was 50 megatons, indicating 282 dB at the epicenter of the blast. This formed a shock wave that circled the Earth.

It would be incredibly loud to have a bomb explode right beside you. You would probably go deaf.

Earthquakes are known to deliver more force than any bomb ever detonated. Based on scientific measurements, a 5 on the Richter scale measures 235.16 dB at the epicenter, and an 8.7 measures 296 dB, which is enough to move the ground up and down by approximately 13 feet. A magnitude of 9+ will flatten cities, as happened to Tohoku, Japan, on March 19, 2011. It takes at least 85 dB to cause hearing loss at any point. Though deaths from earthquakes are usually from damaged buildings and tsunamis.

Earthquakes would be scary. I would hate to lose my hearing to them.

Airplanes use hundreds of thousands of pounds of thrust to fly. A regular commercial plane reaches 140 dB at 32 meters. Airport marshals deal with unbearable noise even at such a distance, despite using strong hearing protection. They are much louder when closer, as anything making noise sounds louder the closer you are. A jet engine measured 164 dB on the inside.

I remember my ears popping from the pressure of the plane and experiencing hearing loss. I think that's more common than getting hearing loss from the noise itself.

Volcanoes are formed from tectonic activity, and some eruptions are so powerful that they damage cities. For example, on August 27, 1883, Krakatoa in Indonesia erupted with such powerful explosions that they were heard about 3,100 miles away. People in Perth, Australia, within that radius, mistook the sound for gunfire.

Barometers 165 km away measured it to be 172 dBI, which was more than enough to shatter glass and cause hearing loss to anybody, indicating 310 dBI at its epicenter. People 46 km away had their eardrums ruptured by the blasts. The eruptions also created a 130-foot tsunami, which was the main cause of the death toll of at least 36,417 lives. Shock waves echoed around Earth four times for nearly a week.

Mt. St. Helens blew up on May 18, 1980, destroying 200 homes, 47 bridges, and 15 miles of railways. Windows of buildings 200 miles away were blown out, indicating 163 dBI from there and 286 dBI from the epicenter. Fifty-seven people were killed, making it the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic eruption in modern U.S. history.

If supervolcanoes like Yellowstone erupted, nearly everyone in the U.S. would be deaf. The climate would be altered worldwide, and over 5 billion people would die, bringing us close to extinction.

Alarms help alert people of danger, whether from smoke, fire, or burglary. This means they emit sounds that can damage your hearing. Some alarms put out frequencies our ears are especially sensitive to. A common home smoke detector emits 85 dBA at 1 meter. A public fire alarm emits 95 dBA at 1 meter (at 2 kHz). Some alarms are sold with outputs of 125 dBA or more, which can damage your hearing almost instantly. Alarms are made for safety, but hearing loss is not safe.

I have anxiety that the fire alarm will go off at night and startle me awake.

Balloons pop with loud sounds that scare not only children but adults alike. How loud they pop depends on the type and how they're popped. A typical 9-inch balloon pops at 151 dBI from puncturing, 157 dBI from compression, and 168 dBI from over-inflation. This means balloons are among the most common causes of hearing loss.

Games that involve popping balloons are extremely dangerous for your hearing. These games violate OSHA, CDC, and W.A.T.C.H. (World Against Toys Causing Harm) noise safety laws. 140 dBA/dBI or greater will cause permanent damage in just 90 milliseconds, which is super quick. Balloons pop even more quickly but much more loudly as well.

Rockets are known to be loud because of the immense energy required to lift them off. Space rockets are especially loud, reaching over 200 dBA. In fact, the Saturn V test engine reached 204 dBA when NASA measured it. They are so loud they can affect anything and anyone miles away with their indescribable power. Ceiling tiles in the press room fell when the Saturn V lifted off with Apollo 4. Thankfully, nobody was killed, but it certainly cost the locals their hearing and regular heart rates.

Gunshots vary depending on the type of gun, but they usually emit 133 dB at 1 meter. Some, like a 12-gauge shotgun, emit 164 dB, and some even 170 or 180 dB. Those hunting or practicing targets routinely fire their guns, damaging their hearing bit by bit.

Guns are too loud. They always scare me. I wouldn't want to go deaf.

They're used almost all the time, and they usually measure 110 dBA 1 meter away. If you're someone who regularly cuts down limbs with a chainsaw, then you're very prone to hearing loss without any protection. Hearing damage kicks in after just 1 minute.

Factories are known for noisy machinery that emits decibel levels loud enough to damage hearing over time. People work there every day, which leads to hearing damage. A steel mill emits 110 dBA, which damages hearing in 1 minute, and oxygen torches emit 121 dBA, which damages hearing in just seconds.

Vehicles such as police cars, fire trucks, and ambulances have sirens capable of emitting 120 dBA just meters away, which can almost instantly damage your hearing. Therefore, passing by one in very close proximity costs drivers their hearing. Thankfully, the sirens help alert them to anyone in danger or injury.

Race cars are loud enough for anyone at any seat to get hearing damage in just seconds. A Formula 1 car puts out 162 dBA meters away. They can be heard for many miles. Inside, they reach 135 dBA, which drivers are exposed to, making racing one of the most dangerous jobs for hearing, among other risks.

Motorcycles typically put out 95 dBA at 2.5 meters and 102 dBA at less than 1 meter. Some are louder, and others are quieter. Motorcycle drivers are typically exposed to approximately 110 dBA when riding at 90 mph with their helmets on due to the engine and wind. This means they will get their hearing damaged in just a minute and a half.

Some speakers, like loudspeakers at concerts and movie theaters, are dangerously loud. Some CD sets have built-in stereo speakers capable of producing deafening sounds. The loudest was 181.6 dBA. Thankfully, nobody was allowed inside the cars, as those sounds would not only damage the hair cells in your ears but also the tissue, leading to eardrum rupture.

They're known to emit 88 dB up close, which can damage your hearing in just 4 hours.

Many sporting events take place either in gyms or stadiums. They can range from 100 to 105 dBA in gymnasiums, but some stadiums can exceed that, leading to hearing damage in much less time. An average football game peaks at 117 dBA, which is enough to damage your hearing in 18 seconds. Remember, the crowd at Kansas Arrowhead Stadium on September 29, 2014, reached 142.2 dBA, enough to damage hearing in about 66 milliseconds.

Nightclubs are said to be fun but are loud enough to damage hearing. They can emit over 100 dBA, and some are even louder. Everyone wants to have fun, but fun doesn't come without safety. 100 dBA damages hearing in just 15 minutes, and at a club, people don't realize that until it's too late.

Sandblasters are known for blasting sand off surfaces and giving products a certain finish. The machinery used for this is loud enough to damage hearing in less than a minute, meaning hearing loss comes before your first minute is up. They emit 115 dBA at 1 meter, which damages hearing in 28.8 seconds.