Noise and Hearing Loss

One  of the most common types of hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss,  caused by long-term exposure of auditory system to a noisy environment.  The hearing loss and tinnitus caused by noise seriously affect people’s  quality of life. Noise can damage the sensitive sensory hair cells  within the ear, auditory nerves, or other parts of your ear. Damage from  noise can happen over an extended time period, such as someone working  with loud machinery or attending concerts. Damaging noises can also be  brief but intense, such as a gunfire. Both  the intensity (volume) and the duration of noise exposure determine the  potential for damage to the hair cells of the inner ear. The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for hearing loss to happen. Although  the sensitivity of each individual is different, experts agree that a  safe limit is 85 dB and this should not exceed 4 hours/day.

High  levels of noise exposure usually come from occupational noise (such as  factories) or recreational noise (such as personal music players). More  and more young people are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss because  of the increasing use of headphones to listen to music.  

Besides  loud noise, there are many other risk factors which can induce  progression of noise-induced hearing loss. Some of these risk factors  include smoking, diabetes and lack of exercise, aging, race and  genetics. These factors can overlap with noise and accelerate the  occurrence of noise-induced hearing loss.

When is loud too loud?

Extended or repeated exposure to sounds exceeding 85 decibels is considered harmful and can lead to hearing loss. It  is not uncommon to notice people listening to their iPods at volumes.  If the person you’re sitting next to can hear the music escaping from  your earphones, it’s too loud.

If you are concerned about noise exposure and your hearing health, you can take action in the following ways:

• Use  disposable or reusable earplugs that block out noise. Follow  instructions on the earplug packaging to ensure your earplug is properly  fit.
• Using  sound isolating earbuds or earmuff headphones when listening to a  personal music device will block out environmental noise and allow you  to listen to audio at lower volume levels.
• Turning  down the volume on audio devices that can allow you to enjoy your music  for longer periods of time without the threat of hearing loss.
• Give  your ears time to rest after long exposure to noise. It is beneficial  to give your ears rest. Researchers have found that ears need at least  16 hours of recovery after one loud night out.
• Get  your hearing checked by a professional, especially if you are  frequently exposed to noise. After age 60, adults typically lose 1 dB of  hearing each year, so a hearing check should be considered annually.

At The Hearing Specialist, we routinely urge our clients to be aware of the risks of excessive noise exposure and to practice safe listening.