Which of these steps can you take to protect your hearing in a very noisy place?
A. Lower the volume
B. Move away from the noise
C. Wear hearing protectors
D. All of the above
The correct answer is D: All of the above.
You can read about these steps all through our website! Our infographic will show you the right way to use earplugs.
Fans of what professional sport competed for the unofficial title of world’s loudest stadium?
A. Soccer
B. Basketball
C. Football
D. Tennis
The correct answer is C: Football.
During one of the games in a noise competition, the decibel level reached 137.5, which is almost as loud as a jet engine taking off. Any sound at or over 85 decibels can damage your hearing. Try our sound advice scale to see the noise levels of common sounds.
Source: Guinness World Records
As the school day goes on, teachers’ voices tend to:
A. Grow very quiet
B. Become hard to understand
C. Become higher-pitched
D. Be used much less often
According to one study, the correct answer is C: Become higher-pitched.
A study using data from the National Center for Voice and Speech found that teachers' voice pitch increases throughout the school day, and they tend to use a higher-pitched voice at school than they do at home.
Source: E. J. Hunter and I. R. Titze. Variations in intensity, fundamental frequency, and voicing for teachers in occupational versus non-occupational settings. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research. 53(4):862-875, 2010.
What is the lowest decibel level at which the average human can hear?
A. 30 decibels
B. 20 decibels
C. 10 decibels
D. 0 decibels
The correct answer is D: 0 decibels.
Sound is measured in units called decibels. Decibel levels begin at zero, which is near total silence and the weakest sound the average person can hear. View our sound advice scale to learn more about decibel levels.
Source: Dangerous Decibels
_____________ is the name for a ringing sound in your ears, which can sometimes be caused by exposure to very loud noise or exposure to loud noise over long periods of time.
A. Ear-ring
B. Tinnitus
C. Otitis media
D. Earwaxitus
The correct answer is B: Tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a symptom that something is wrong in your ear or in areas of your brain that interpret sound. Many things can cause tinnitus, including something as simple as a piece of earwax blocking your ear canal. If you hear ringing, buzzing, or roaring in your ears when it's quiet around you, you might have tinnitus and should visit your doctor.
Source: The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Your eardrum vibrates in response to incoming sound waves. It sends these vibrations to three tiny bones in your middle ear. What are these bones called?
A. Femur, patella, and tibia
B. Malleus, incus, and stapes
C. Cranium, mandible, and clavicle
D. Henry, Maya, and Aidan
The correct answer is B: Malleus [MAL-ee-us], incus [INK-us], and stapes [STAY-peez].
Research has shown that being __________ may be associated with a higher risk of hearing loss.
A. Tall
B. Nearsighted
C. Thin
D. Obese
The correct answer is D: Obese.
Scientists analyzing data from a famous long-term study of female nurses found that being obese (having a Body Mass Index [BMI] of 30 or more) was associated with a higher risk of hearing loss. The scientists also found that the women who exercised more had a lower risk of hearing loss. You can read more about the study.
Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by loud sounds over a long period of time or by an “impulse” sound. An example of an “impulse” sound is ___________.
A. An explosion
B. A long train whistle
C. Music through headphones/earbuds
D. A refrigerator humming
The correct answer is A: An explosion.
You can read more about impulse sounds and noise-induced hearing loss on our Noisy Planet website.
Which of these is NOT a sign of possible hearing loss?
A. Turning the TV volume up so high that others complain
B. Having trouble hearing friends in a noisy place
C. Misunderstanding what others are saying
D. Forgetting your math book at home
The correct answer is D: Forgetting your math book at home.
It may get you in trouble at school, but it’s not a sign of possible hearing loss! If someone you know turns the TV volume up too high or has trouble hearing or understanding friends and family, encourage them to take the Do You Need a Hearing Test? quiz.
Which nerve carries signals to your brain, which translates those signals into a “sound” that you recognize and understand?
A. Vagus
B. Spinal cord
C. Auditory
D. Optic
The correct answer is C: Auditory.
Hearing depends on a series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrical signals. Your auditory nerve then carries these signals to your brain through a complex series of steps.
Read more about how we hear on our website.
Learn how sounds make their way from the source to your brain.
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