How can loud sounds lead to hearing loss

Based on a CDC study involving hearing tests and interviews with participants, at least 10 million adults 6 percent in the U. Researchers have also estimated that as many as 17 percent of teens ages 12 to 19 have features of their hearing test suggestive of NIHL in one or both ears Pediatrics , based on data from Recreational activities that can put you at risk for NIHL include target shooting and hunting, snowmobile riding, listening to MP3 players at high volume through earbuds or headphones, playing in a band, and attending loud concerts.

Harmful noises at home may come from sources including lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and woodworking tools. Sound is measured in units called decibels. Sounds at or below 70 A-weighted decibels dBA , even after long exposure, are unlikely to cause hearing loss. However, long or repeated exposure to sounds at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss.

The louder the sound, the shorter the amount of time it takes for NIHL to happen. Your distance from the source of the sound and the length of time you are exposed to the sound are also important factors in protecting your hearing. A good rule of thumb is to avoid noises that are too loud, too close, or last too long. To understand how loud noises can damage our hearing, we have to understand how we hear.

Hearing depends on a series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrical signals. Our auditory nerve then carries these signals to the brain through a complex series of steps. Most NIHL is caused by the damage and eventual death of these hair cells. They are gone for good. When you are exposed to loud noise over a long period of time, you may slowly start to lose your hearing. Because the damage from noise exposure is usually gradual, you might not notice it, or you might ignore the signs of hearing loss until they become more pronounced.

Over time, sounds may become distorted or muffled, and you might find it difficult to understand other people when they talk or have to turn up the volume on the television.

You also may be entitled to workers' compensation benefits for on-the-job hearing loss. More: Hearing loss in the workplace. Things we do for fun can also cause NIHL, including hunting or shooting at a firing range, attending concerts , listening to loud music or performing it , operating lawn and home improvement equipment, and riding motorcycles and snowmobiles.

Aside from damaging your hearing, research shows that noise pollution and NIHL can lead to:. Fortunately, research shows that hearing aids help with many of these health problems. Statistics show about 40 million US adults aged years have noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is usually permanent, so it's important to take precautions to protect your ears.

There are several solutions available for people who anticipate being in loud noise situations, including:. How loud is too loud? Your can find out via your phone and our list of the best smartphone decibel meter apps to measure sound levels. In general, though, you know it's too loud if you have to lean in close to talk to someone next to you, or shout at them.

If you leave the event, and your hearing is muffled, you have experienced temporary threshold shift. Noise-induced hearing loss is, unfortunately, permanent. Typically the best treatment for NIHL is properly fitted hearing aids. Today's technology works better than hearing aids of decades ago, and solutions are widely available for every budget and lifestyle need.

If you already have hearing loss, find a hearing care provider near you and make an appointment. Joy Victory has extensive experience editing consumer health information. Her training in particular has focused on how to best communicate evidence-based medical guidelines and clinical trial results to the public. She strives to make health content accurate, accessible and engaging to the public. Read more about Joy. More information about hearing aids , hearing aid brands , assistive devices and tinnitus.

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What is noise-induced hearing loss NIHL? Symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss Noise-induced hearing loss typically makes it harder to hear high-frequency sounds , which is easy to detect with a hearing test that can be charted on an audiogram. Other signs that you need to get your hearing tested by a hearing care professional include: You have pain in your ears following loud noise exposure.

Other people comment that you're talking loudly or shouting. You have tinnitus —ringing, whooshing, roaring or buzzing sounds in your ears. You may experience diplacusis, or " double hearing ," though this is rare. Noise levels of common sounds In general, people are advised against exposure to any sound above about 85 decibels, though it also depends on how long and how often a person is exposed, as well as how close they are to the sound. Auditory Nerve The auditory nerve carries the electrical signals from the inner ear to the brain.

The brain interprets the signals as sound that you recognize and understand. Top of Page. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.

Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. Noise can damage hair cells, membranes, nerves, or other parts of your ear. This can cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. Learn how this happens so that you can prevent hearing loss.

Keep the volume down — Too loud and too long can damage your hearing. Noise Can Also Damage Nerves in Your Ears In addition to damaging hair cells, noise can also damage the auditory nerve that carries information about sounds to your brain.

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