Following recent concerns from faculty chaperones over noise levels at dances, Chris Capano, Director of Student Activities, monitored the decibel levels during the Latin Arts Dance two weeks ago.
Exposure to decibel levels of 100-105 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause permanent damage to one’s hearing, according to Amy Patel, Medical Director at Isham. According to Capano, the noise levels at the Latin Arts Dance ranged from 80 to 95 decibels, within acceptable boundaries.
During the Latin Arts Dance, decibel levels were monitored for the first ten minutes and during the dance’s peak attendance. The decibel levels were measured using “Decibel,” an application available on the iPhone.
Capano said that if people at dances begin to complain about the music’s volume, the DJ will be asked to turn the music down. Often, because the DJ stands behind the speakers, he or she does not realize the volume of the music.
“The findings [from the Latin Arts Dance] were useful in that we now have an idea of how loud the dances are as opposed to just a feeling that someone has. We’ll continue to monitor the sound levels,” wrote Capano in an email to The Phillipian.
The school will continue to offer earplugs to chaperones and students who are uncomfortable with the sound level at school dances.
