Actual hearing damage can occur from which type of noise exposure?

Hearing damage typically occurs when individuals are exposed to sound levels that exceed the safe decibel limit. This is due to the fact that prolonged exposure to high decibel levels can cause physical damage to the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear, leading to noise-induced hearing loss. The safe decibel limit generally recognized in occupational health is around 85 decibels for extended exposure; any noise above that threshold carries greater risk for hearing impairment.

While continuous low-level noise and sudden loud noises can contribute to discomfort or temporary threshold shifts, they are not as directly associated with permanent hearing damage as noise exposure that consistently exceeds the recommended safe limits. Therefore, the key factor in potential hearing damage is whether the noise exposure is above the established safe decibel limits.