Auditory Rest

It’s important to get auditory rest before undergoing a hearing assessment in order to obtain accurate results. But what is auditory rest, exactly? And how can you make sure it’s done properly?

Auditory rest is a prolonged period of time during which a person’s ears should not be exposed to noise over 80 dB.

Typically, the auditory rest period should be twice as long as the period of prolonged exposure to loud noises. For example, if a factory worker is exposed to loud noises in excess of 80 dB for a continuous period of 8 hours without hearing protection, they should take a 16-hour auditory rest.

If the person cannot take the time off from working in a noisy environment for the prescribed period, they must make sure to wear hearing protectors throughout their entire shift. Ideally, they should wear both earplugs and earmuffs, if their protective equipment (e.g., hard hat) allows.

If the worker wears hearing protectors only 50% of the time they are exposed to loud noises, that will only attenuate 3 dB of the total amount of noise to which they are exposed, which is generally insufficient in terms of auditory rest.

It should be noted that some types of noise exposure require more than double the rest time. For example, a music concert can emit sounds of up to 100 dB. Even if the show only lasts a few hours, the auditory rest period will have to be more than double that, given the high decibel level.

It’s important to respect that rest period or reschedule your appointment. If the auditory rest is not long enough, the results may show more hearing loss than is actually the case.

Auditory rest is important, of course, but you don’t need to overdo it by isolating yourself unnecessarily. Non-continuous “household” noises will not cause hearing fatigue that could alter the results of a hearing assessment. Vacuuming, listing to music at medium volume, or going to the hairdresser won’t interfere with your rest period.

It should also be noted that the time of day during which the hearing assessment is performed has no impact on the results. There is a widespread misconception that if you make an appointment at the end of the day, your auditory system won’t perform as well. But as long as you get auditory rest beforehand, the results will be valid regardless of the time of day.

It’s also important not to confuse auditory fatigue with physical or mental fatigue. Noise levels below 80 dB have no impact on the ear, but could possibly affect sleep, attention, and even your cardiovascular system. For example, if your neighbours are chatting loudly while you’re trying to sleep, you may feel physically tired the next day, but you’ll still be well and truly fit for a hearing assessment.

If you have any questions about auditory rest, talk to your audiologist.