What Is Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a hearing issues caused by exposure to loud noises. Noise can damage the hair cells in your inner ear. This hampers their ability to pick up and send the signals to the brain. NIHL can occur from prolonged and repeated exposure to noise. For example, a loud noise like an explosion, gunshot, or airhorn can cause sudden NIHL. This kind of hearing loss may be permanent or temporary and can affect both or one ear.

What Causes Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

As the name suggests, NIHL occurs due to noise. Sounds of 70 A-weighted dBA and below are unlikely to cause NIHL. This is even with prolonged exposure. Chronic and repeated exposure to sounds of 85 dBA and above can cause NIHL. The louder the noise, the shorter the time it takes to develop NIHL. Noise-induced hearing loss can also occur due to loud bursts of sound. These can rupture your eardrums or damage the bones of the inner ear. This type of NIHL is often sudden and permanent.

Signs Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

NIHL due to prolonged exposure to noise often occurs over time. You may not notice it or even ignore the symptoms of NIHL until they affect your life. You may hear muffled sounds or find it hard to understand others when they talk. If you have NIHL, you may want to raise your television volume. When NIHL occurs due to impulse noise, you may notice hearing loss immediately. Another symptom is tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing sound in the head or ears. Tinnitus may subside with time. It can occur throughout your life.

Treatment For Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

There is no way to fix noise-induced hearing loss. This is because the damaged hair cells cannot grow back. You can prevent noise-induced hearing loss by avoiding further noise exposure. The management of NIHL includes the use of hearing aids and hearing implants.

How To Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?

NIHL is hearing loss that is preventable. If you know the dangers of noise and good health practices, you can protect yourself against NIHL. Here are some ways you can protect against hearing loss.

• Understand which noises damage your ears and the challenges of losing your hearing
• Wear earmuffs, earplugs, and other protective devices when around loud noises
• Limit the time you spend engaging in noise activities
• Track noise exposure and keep volumes down
• If you cannot control the noise or protect your ears, move away from the noise source
• Protect the ears of young children to avert premature hearing loss

Call Us Today

Follow the tips above to protect your ears against noise and hearing loss. Make sure the protective devices fit as they should. If you can’t get them to fit, reach out to our hearing care team. If you think you have noise-induced hearing loss, contact our hearing professional. Have your ears checked today by one of our trained specialists.