REAL SIMPLE Find Your Balance by The Editors of Real Simple

Author:The Editors of Real Simple
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liberty Street
Published: 2017-08-12T04:00:00+00:00

Know your Noise

Sounds don’t have to be deafening to cause harm—especially if you’re subjecting yourself to the sounds of a hair dryer, a leaf blower, and a Zumba class all in the same morning. Here’s how to protect your ears and your sanity.

By Kate Rockwood

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Blender

Your blender can whirl for four hours before hurting your eardrums. That may seem like an inconceivable number of smoothies until you consider that many household sounds hover at this level. Don’t cram more than four hours of noisy tasks into one day. As for blenders, some models, like the Jamba Quiet blender ($140; target.com), have plastic enclosures to mask sounds.

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Vacuum

If you’re bothered by the din of your vacuum, swap it for the Electrolux Silent Performer Cyclone Vacuum ($300; electrolux.com).

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Leaf Blower

Just seven minutes of operating the average gas-powered leaf blower without covering your ears can affect your hearing. Opt for a rake or a leaf blower that runs on electricity or batteries, which tends to be quieter. The EGO 530 Cordless Leaf Blower ($132; homedepot.com) claims to be the quietest on the market, at 65 decibels.

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Typical Conversation

“As long as no one’s yelling, you can engage in conversation nonstop and not harm your hearing,” says ­Cristina Cabrera-Muffly, MD, an otolaryngologist and assistant professor at the University of Colorado in Denver. But if you’re raising your voice or leaning closer to hear, those are red flags that you should take your talk ­elsewhere.

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Fireworks

Fireworks are loud enough to affect your hearing with just one kaboom from a few feet away. Grab your earplugs and head for the farthest lawn seats at the next display. The more distance you can put between your ears and the detonation, the better.

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Dog Bark

At max exertion, dogs can hit triple-digit decibels, but studies show that sustained barking is usually closer to 90.

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Airplane Takeoff

Runway workers wear ear protection for a reason. Listening to a jet take off 100 feet away can cause permanent damage in seconds. If you’re boarding a plane outside, cover your ears. That won’t totally protect you, but it will help.

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Personal Music Player

You can listen to most headphones at top volume for only about eight minutes before it affects your hearing. Ask a friend to talk at a normal level: You should be able to hear her over the music. And wear noise-canceling headphones. We like Sony’s MDR-1000X headphones ($350; sony.com) and BeMe D200 earbuds ($140; beemunited.com). Keep the volume dial below the halfway point.

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Dishwasher

At this level, your appliance won’t hurt your hearing. But if you want to cut back on noise in the kitchen, the Samsung Top Control Dishwasher with Flextray ($1,200; homedepot.com) can hum at as low as 38 decibels, reportedly the lowest on the market.

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Ambulance or Police Siren Next to You

Being inside a car will muffle the noise somewhat. Still, if that emergency vehicle isn’t speeding past fast enough or you’re on the sidewalk, it’s smart to cover your ears.

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Hand Drill

Though they’re small, hand drills pack a big punch when it comes to noise. The Black + Decker 12V MAX Cordless Lithium Drill and Driver ($43; target.

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