Hand dryers are a key item found in many public restrooms. While they help dry hands, did you know these devices can harm hearing health? Hand dryers are so loud that they can actually contribute to the development of noise induced hearing loss. Hearing loss is a medical condition that reduces capacity to hear and process speech as well as sound. This can have multifaceted effects including the learning development among kids. This highlights the importance of practicing safety measures to protect hearing health, and participation for kids who can’t be really impacted by hand dryers.
Impact of Hand Dryers on Hearing
Nora Keegan, a 13-year-old from Calgary (Canada) noticed that her ears would start ringing after using a hand dryer. She also noticed that other students would avoid using hand dryers so she conducted a study to see if hand dryers were detrimental to children’s hearing. Keegan’s study, conducted between 2015-2017, involved visiting more than 40 public restrooms and using a professional decibel meter to measure sound levels of hand dryers (at different heights and distances). Her findings were published in a Canadian journal, Paediatrics & Child Health and include:
- Many of the hand dryers exceeded 100 decibels — a volume that can lead to “learning disabilities, attention difficulties, and ruptured ear drums,” according to the study.
- The loudest measurement was recorded at 121 decibels, a level that can cause noise induced hearing loss.
These findings highlight that hand dryers produce noise levels that are hazardous for hearing health. Kids often have regular exposure to these hand dryers at school and this consistent exposure can irreparably damage hearing.
How Loud is Too Loud for Kids?
It is important to understand noise levels so you can identify when sound is simply too loud. Sound is measured in units known as decibels (dB) and noise above 85dB is considered hazardous for hearing. For perspective, this is equivalent to busy traffic and a hair dryer. Experts suggest that people can be exposed to 85dB for 8 hours a day without damaging hearing but that this is the threshold.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s guidelines for safe listening, exposure time to noise above 85dB should be drastically reduced. According to their guidelines, for every 3 decibel increase of noise above 85dB, exposure time should be reduced by half:
- 85dB: 8 hours
- 88dB: 4 hours
- 91dB: 2 hours
- 94dB: 1 hour
- 97dB: 30min
- 100dB: 15min
Handdryers expose kids to noise levels that are dangerously high on a consistent basis. This exposure can have consequences on hearing health.
Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Noise exposure from sources like hand dryers can irreparably damage the sensory cells in the inner ear. Located in the inner ear, these cells help convert incoming soundwaves into electrical signals which get sent to the brain. The brain is then able to further process and assign meaning to these signals, allowing us to understand what we hear. Loud noise can desensitize and weaken sensory cells, preventing them from processing incoming effectively. This results in the brain receiving less auditory information, producing hearing loss.
Tips to Protect Hearing Health
Fortunately, noise induced hearing loss is completely preventable. Teaching your kids to practice the following safety measures can protect their hearing health:
- Wear hearing protection: this includes headphones or earplugs which provide the ears with a physical barrier that reduces the amount of loud noise that is absorbed.
- Lower noise levels: electronic devices like phones and headphones can reach high noise levels so it is important to maintain low volume settings.
- Take listening breaks: taking 5-10 minute listening breaks throughout the day provides the ears and brain with a break from constantly absorbing and processing sound.
- Avoid loud noise exposure: avoiding loud noise in other ways is also important. This includes strategies like not using hand dryers (or wearing earplugs while doing so) and avoiding noisy settings during peak hours.
Another helpful preventative measure is having your kids’ hearing health assessed regularly. This allows you to track their hearing health and any changes they may experience over time. Contact us today to learn more about protecting hearing health and to schedule an appointment for a hearing test!
