Online test · Noise at work
Noise at work and hearing: when to get checked
This article does not deal with legal requirements, tests required as part of employment, or rights. For questions like these, contact whoever is responsible for safety at your workplace.
Signs not to neglect
- Ringing or buzzing in the ears after a shift or after a day near noise.
- A feeling of "blocked" ears or muffled hearing at the end of the day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), loud sound tires the sensory cells in the ear, and the result can be temporary muffled hearing or ringing, which usually improves. Regular exposure to loud or prolonged noise can cause permanent damage. NIDCD, the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, adds that even when a temporary hearing loss seems to pass, long-term damage may remain.
- Difficulty in conversation in noise, on a break, in a dining room or on the phone near machines.
- Questions that keep coming back. Colleagues or family say you ask them to repeat things, or that the TV at home is loud.
These signs alone do not mean there is hearing loss. They are a reason to get tested. And if hearing dropped suddenly, or there is ear pain or discharge, see a doctor the same day.
How loud is "loud"?
It is hard to judge noise by feel. A sound level meter on your phone can give a direction, but research shows it is not as accurate as dedicated measuring equipment: researchers at NIOSH, the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, tested 192 apps, and only a few came close to professional measuring equipment. So a phone sound level meter is not suitable for assessing noise at work. More in the article A sound level meter on your phone: what it does not know.
What can a self-check show someone who works in noise?
The G-Sound self-check has three parts:
- The NIDCD questionnaire about everyday situations, including conversations with colleagues and customers at work.
- Tones for each ear, to see whether there is a difference between the ears.
- Digits in noise, which test understanding when there is background noise.
Tip: it is worth taking the check on a day off, not right at the end of a noisy shift. According to NIDCD, exposure to loud noise sometimes causes a temporary hearing loss that disappears after 16 to 48 hours, and a test during that time may show a difficulty that has not yet passed.
What the online test does not do
- It does not measure hearing thresholds and does not give an audiogram.
- It does not determine whether there is hearing loss, or whether it is related to work.
- It does not replace a test required as part of employment, and is not a document for any body.
- It does not measure the noise at the workplace.
- It is not suitable for an urgent situation: sudden hearing loss, ear pain or discharge from the ear are reasons to see a doctor the same day.
A full test, also at the workplace
We do hearing tests with an audiogram, at home, at work or at an institution. The test is carried out by a G-Sound technician with an audiogram, by appointment and nationwide. Details: Home hearing test or Private hearing test (in Hebrew).
And protection from noise?
If you work in noise regularly, it is worth thinking about protection too. At G-Sound we make custom noise earplugs: we come to you, take an impression, and the earplug is sent to your home. We do not give technical attenuation values and do not promise a level of protection.
- To the self-check (in Hebrew)
- A sound level meter on your phone: what it does not know
- Custom noise earplugs
- Custom earplugs
- Hearing aids at work
- Home hearing test
The self-check, and after it the full test. On a day off, with headphones and in a quiet room: to the self-check (in Hebrew). For a full test with an audiogram, also at home: call 055-3333338 or WhatsApp.
Sources
- WHO, "Deafness and hearing loss: Safe listening" (Q&A) · checked 03.11.2026
- NIDCD, "Noise-Induced Hearing Loss" · checked 03.11.2026
- Kardous & Shaw (NIOSH), "A smartphone noise meter app in every pocket?", Acoustical Society of America, 2015 · checked 03.11.2026
- NIDCD, "Do You Need A Hearing Test?" (bookmark, March 2016) · checked 03.11.2026
English version: 4 November 2026 · Written by the G-Sound editorial team. Original version updated 03.11.2026. The information is general and does not replace a check-up or medical advice.
More in English
Frequently asked questions
Questions about noise at work and hearing
I have worked in noise for years and do not feel anything. Is it worth getting tested?
WHO recommends that people who work in a noisy place have their hearing checked every year. A self-check will not hurt, and it can show whether there is something worth looking into more deeply. If in doubt, a full test is better.
My ears ring after a shift. Is that dangerous?
We cannot determine that. According to WHO, ringing that persists can indicate damage to hearing, and it also has other causes, so it is worth seeking medical advice. It is also worth getting tested and mentioning it at the test. If the ringing appeared suddenly together with a drop in hearing, see a doctor the same day.
Is the self-check suitable for tests my employer asks for?
No. It is a self-check for awareness only, and not a document.
Can a full test be done at the workplace?
Yes. We also do hearing tests at work, by appointment. Contact us: 055-3333338.
Are custom earplugs suitable for noisy work?
We make custom noise earplugs according to the impression of your ear. Tell us about your work, and we will check with you what suits.
Please do not send sensitive medical information in a message. We go over the relevant details on the phone.
Want to arrange it?
Service is by appointment: at the customer's home, at work, and sometimes in the everyday setting where the difficulty happens.
A full hearing test with an audiogram, also at work, by appointment.
055-3333338