To mark World Hearing Day 2023, Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams has teamed up with Boots Hearingcare to raise awareness of the importance of looking after our hearing health. Finding it difficult to hear well is more common as we grow older, but new research from the audiology experts is highlighting the impact it can have on our wellbeing if left untreated.
The Boots Hearingcare study shows that one in ten Brits (11%) suspect they have a hearing loss but have not been for a test, while almost a third of people surveyed (30%) have seen loved ones withdraw from conversations when they are unable to hear well.
Noise has the potential to cause damage to our ears once levels reach over 80 decibels – with the risk increasing the longer we are exposed to that particular sound. And it’s not just loud music venues or construction sites that are among the worst offenders; there are some unlikely culprits that some of us may be exposed to every day that can also reach unsafe sound levels, including :
| Source of sound |
Decibel level |
Length of time it is safe to be exposed without hearing protection |
| Tube train |
91 dB |
2 hours |
| Lawnmower |
94 dB |
1 hour |
| Industrial fire alarm |
97 dB |
30 mins |
| Hand held drill |
100 dB |
15 mins |
| Motor bike |
106 dB |
3 mins 45 seconds |
| Crying baby |
109 dB |
1 min 42 seconds |
| Live rock band |
112 dB |
1 min 6 seconds |
Karen Shepherd, Director of Audiology at Boots Hearingcare, said:
“We are born with 16,000 inner and outer hair cells which have one job – to transmit vibrations to our brain where they are decoded as sound. Between 30 and 50 percent can become damaged before you would even notice an issue with your hearing, but once the damage is done it can’t be reversed.
"Making some simple lifestyle shanges to protect your hearing helps to shield your sensitive hair cells and limit any potential damage. With hearing, once it’s gone, it’s gone, so it makes sense to take precautions and means you can stay connected to the sounds you love.”