Of all the sounds that signal the start of spring—early morning birdsong, the evening chorus of peepers—one roars above all others: the first lawn mower of the season.
Reaching decibels (dB) of 85 to 100, mowers, as well as, leaf blowers, and weed whackers, do more than expedite yard work. Exposure to the noise of yard equipment kills the nerve endings in our inner ear, leading to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). The more you’re exposed, the more hearing loss will be experienced. The result is permanent hearing loss that cannot be corrected through surgery or with medicine.
However, NIHL can be prevented.
Hearing loss in minutes
Long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dB can cause problems. The louder the sound, the quicker the damage. Here’s a look at how quickly hearing loss can occur when working unprotected with different types of power equipment.
Lawn Mower | 90 dB | 2.5 hours
String Trimmer | 96 dB | 38 minutes
Leaf Blower | 99 dB | 19 minutes
Pressure Washer | 100 dB | 15 minutes
Chain Saw | 110 dB | 1.5 minutes
SOURCE: National Institutes of Health
The best approaches involve preventing damaging noise from reaching your delicate inner ear. Here’s where to start:
Use Hearing Protection
Wear earplugs or earmuffs specifically designed for noise reduction. Available at most hardware and sporting goods stores, these devices can significantly lower the intensity of sound reaching your ears. Read the packaging thoroughly to ensure a snug fit for optimal protection.
Give Your Ears a Break
After long or loud noise exposure, ears can often recover. But rest and quiet time are crucial for recovery. Break up yard work into shorter sessions or over two days to provide that critical rest. When possible, avoid running multiple noisy tools simultaneously.
Maintain Distance
Keep a safe distance from operating machinery whenever possible. The farther you are from the source of noise, the less intense it will be.
Switch to Electric
Electric power tools emit lower sound levels than gas ones. When the time comes to upgrade one of your power tools, consider switching to electric.
Monitor Your Hearing
Pay attention to any signs of ear discomfort or ringing after yard work. Persistent symptoms may indicate early hearing damage and warrant a visit to an audiologist.
Music is not the answer
As tempting as it is to try and drown out the sound of equipment with AirPods or earbuds, you’re likely to do more harm than good. That’s because blocking the sound of power equipment requires you to turn your device’s volume to the max, effectively doubling your noise exposure and increasing the potential damage to your inner ear.
Invest in noise-canceling headphones if you’re committed to listening to music, books, or podcasts while operating equipment. These partially block some engine sound while letting you listen to tunes at a lower volume.
Kate O'Neill, MS, CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist at SVMC Outpatient Rehabilitation, part of Southwestern Vermont Medical Center.