![\"\"](\"https:\/\/arizonahearing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/air-balloon-balloons-birthday-42067-300x200-1.jpg\" "\\"air-balloon-balloons-birthday-42067-300x200\\"")
\nThe co-authors of this study, Bill Hodgetts and Dylan Scott, have been to their fair number of children\u2019s parties. That is where they came up with the idea of actually testing how loud the pop of a balloon is.<\/p>\n
When thinking of the dangers that lurk at a children\u2019s birthday party, you would probably think of the sugary cake or the injuries from too much horseplay. What if I told you that you should add balloons to the list?<\/p>\n
A new study by a pair of researchers at the University of Alberta found that the sound of a popping balloon can be louder than a gunshot.<\/p>\n
\nThe co-authors of this study, Bill Hodgetts and Dylan Scott, have been to their fair number of children\u2019s parties. That is where they came up with the idea of actually testing how loud the pop of a balloon is.<\/p>\n
Their study<\/a> used a standard package of party balloons that any parent would purchase for the big day. They did a series of experiments and measured the results. Blown up balloons that were popped by a pin measured 155 dB and those popped by hand measured 159 dB. The loudest pop came from a balloon that was inflated until it popped. At close range, the sound of this balloon rupturing measured 168 dB, louder than the blast of a pistol (167 dB) or a 12-gauge shotgun (162 dB).<\/p>\n You may find yourself wondering what these results mean. Hearing loss <\/a>caused by exposure to loud noises is called noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by exposure to an extremely loud sound or prolonged exposure to loud sounds over time. Specifically,<\/p>\nNoise-Induced Hearing Loss<\/h2>\n
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