Have You Heard?

Decibel measurement gauge with green needle pointing to 30 dB

How is Sound Measured?

Many factors influence how loud a sound seems. One easily measured factor is sound intensity, or volume, which is measured in decibels. A-weighted decibels, or “dBA,” are often used to describe sound level recommendations for healthy listening.

People dancing at an indoor music festival

Yikes! Only Eight Percent of U.S. Adults Consistently Use Hearing Protectors at Loud Events

According to a 2018 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only eight percent of US adults say that they regularly wear hearing protectors at loud athletic and entertainment events.

An image of Dr. Tucci standing in a hallway next to a sign that reads, "NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders"

Noisy Planet Welcomes New NIDCD Director

Debara L. Tucci, M.D., M.S., M.B.A., became the director of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health, on September 3, 2019.

Books, pencils, pens, paperclips, craft paint, pencil case, and an apple are on a desk in front of a chalkboard with “Back to School” written on it.

Protect Your Child’s Hearing This School Year

Schools are filled with the sounds of packed hallways and cafeterias, band practices, and sporting events. Be sure that kids have their hearing tested and keep earplugs in their backpacks.