Did you know that your ears work even while you’re asleep? It’s true–your brain filters out the sounds for you. Your ears are able to hear an incredible amount of things, but noises that are too loud can damage them. Some common noises can be damaging to your hearing. Even cicadas can be hard on your ears. How do you know if a sound is too loud? Check out the interactive sound ruler on the It’s a Noisy Planet website to learn what kinds of sounds can damage hearing and learn more about how to protect your ears.

How much do you know about your brain? Quiz Your Noodle and find out!

Image courtesy the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, “It’s A Noisy Planet. Protect Their Hearing” campaign