Crackers and hearing loss

Our hearing is precious.

Under ideal test conditions the normal ear (has threshold of or) can hear sounds as low as 20dB intensity. And to understand those sounds, the intensity needs to be about 40dB more, i.e. 60 dB, which is also the intensity at which we speak normally. 80dB of sound is little high in intensity and 100 dB is the threshold of pain.

If we compare this with sounds in our natural environment then 60dB is the intensity at which we talk, 80dB is the ring of the telephone, 90dB is the sound of a truck which just passed you, 100dB is the sound of a lawn-mower working, and 110dB is the intensity which the aircraft generates at the time of take-off. All these sounds are spread across various frequencies from 20Hz to 20,000Hz. This is the entire spectrum of frequencies which comprises of all the speech sounds, and the music.

Recently a rule was implemented and now the manufacturers of crackers have to mention the dB of sound which is generates.

Louder the intensity, louder the impact it makes on our hearing. Upon short-term exposure to very loud sounds we may get what professionals say ‘temporary threshold shift,’ (which could be reversed) and long-term exposure may cause ‘permanent threshold shift,’ or hearing loss (which may not be reversed).

Hearing loss could be of various type and degree depending upon the pathology. Due to hearing loss, the person can only hear at elevated intensities. One of the reasons then that he will have to wear hearing aid o hear at normal intensity. Actually the hearing aid would amplify the sounds and deliver it at higher intensity to the wearer.

So we should be cautious while playing with the crackers in the sense that what intensity of sound that they generate and also for how much duration that you keep the ‘celebration’ going! Crackers which generates less than 110 dB of sound and for less than 10-12 sec. will be on the safer side.