
What is a safe noise level for the public? The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders states, “Long or repeated exposure to sound at or above 85 decibels can cause hearing loss.”
In the absence of a federal standard, an occupational standard meant to prevent hearing loss appears to have become the de facto safe level for all public noise exposures.
Dr. Fink writes, “Eighty-five decibels is not a safe noise exposure level for the public.” Read the full article to find out what Dr. Fink recommends as a safe decibel level and how that impacts the tinnitus community.