Noise induced hearing loss
Noise induced hearing loss is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. According to latest research, noise induced hearing loss impacts 40 million Americans aged 20 – 69 years.
In general, a noise is too loud if you find you are having to speak up or your ears are hurting/ringing.
Continue reading to learn more.
What causes Noise Induced Hearing loss?
There are many causes for noise induced hearing loss. In most cases, it will result in a SENSORINEURAL HEARING LOSS. Loud noises can damage a persons’ inner ear, specifically their cochlea, which is responsible for coding sounds into electrical signals. Depending on what type of loud sounds a person is exposed to and how often they are exposed to them, this loss can either happen gradually (over time) or suddenly.
Some of the more well-known causes?
– Hunting and shooting
– Loud concerts
– Explosions
– Sirens
– Jet engines
– Working around loud machinery or on construction sites
– Musicians in bands/orchestras
Some of the lesser-known causes?
– Working in a busy restaurant all day
– Lawn mowing
– Use of power tools at home
– Listening to music on your personal device
– Heavy traffic
– Non-insulated trucks (e.g. truck drivers)
– Vacuuming for long periods of time
Signs & Symptoms
Noise induced hearing loss often sneaks up on you without you realising.
- Ringing in your ears
- Pain in your ears after loud exposure
- Asking others to speak up or repeat themselves more often
- Originally you may only have issues in group settings or when there is lots of background noise (such as in a restaurant)
- Issues with high-pitched sounds
- No issues with the volume of people's voices but problems with the clarity (i.e., only hearing 'ed' in 'fed')
How Can you prevent noise induced hearing loss?
There are several actions you can take to prevent noise induced hearing loss. If you work in a noisy environment or enjoy noisy hobbies, here are some quick tips for you.
1. Be aware of your surroundings and what is potentially going to damage your hearing.
2. Invest in good quality custom noise protection. Unfortunately, many foam earplugs can be uncomfortable and create “noise leaks”, as they are not moulded to your specific ear shape. Custom earplugs can offer you the right amount of protection based on what you need it for, are comfortable and reusable.
3. Monitor the volume on your personal devices. In most cases if the volume of your device is above 50%, that is too loud.
4. If you enjoy listening to music, invest in noise cancelling headphones. This will stop you from turning the volume up to compete with other sounds around you. Speak to us today about the latest innovations, such as the Audeara range.
5. Get your hearing tested routinely, especially if you work in a noisy workplace. Do not put it off!
If you fear the damage has already been done, don’t delay seeking treatment for your hearing loss. Research shows that the longer you delay treatment (i.e., hearing aids), the more risk you have of dementia onset, falls risk, social isolation, declined job performance, and poorer quality of life.