It's not just the thump of that loud car rolling down the street with the boom box blaring; it's more than likely that repetitive sound or loud constant bank in your place of work that is the real hazard. It has been a constant threat since the industrial revolution began not so many years ago. Too much noise exposure may cause a temporary change in hearing (your ears may feel stuffed up) or a temporary ringing in your ears (tinnitus). In most cases, the ringing in your ears or the pounding headache goes away within a few minutes or hours after leaving the noise. However, repeated exposures to loud noise can lead to permanent, incurable hearing loss or tinnitus. Ear plugs and ear muffs should always be used at race tracks, shooting ranges, hunting and in some cases concerts. Ear plugs are also helpful for sleeping, that person next to you that is constantly snoring and swimming.

NIOSH recommends removing hazardous noise from the workplace whenever possible and using hearing protectors in those situations where dangerous noise exposures have not yet been controlled or eliminated.