How to Protect Your Hearing From: Scientific American - 08/2015 - page 49 By: M. Charles Liberman In animal studies in several different species, we have produced irreversible nerve damage in the ear with two hours of continuous exposure to noise at 100 to 104 decibels (dB). There is every reason to believe that human ears are just as sensitive. Most daily exposures in our lives do not continue for that long. Nevertheless, it is prudent to avoid unprotected exposure to any sounds in excess of 100 dB. Read the entire preview at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-protect-your-hearing/ Related: Regaining Balance with Bionic Ears (preview) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/regaining-balance-with-bionic-ears/ How Hearing Works (video 6:44) http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-hearing-works-video/