Types & Effects of Deafness
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is caused by extremely loud or sustained noises that damage the sensitive inner structure of the ear. Auditory nerves are very sensitive and cannot be replenished or replace once they have become damaged. Noise Induced Hearing Loss occurs when a person experiences either a traumatically loud event or suffers long exposure to loud noise over time.
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[Edit]1 Causes of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
The human ear has a threshold below which it can experience sound safely and comfortably. When a powerful impulse of noise exceeds those thresholds, the inner mechanisms of the ear are overwhelmed and strain themselves trying to cope with the signal. A traumatic event such as an explosion can send sound waves into the ear as an extremely high level that the ear is not capable of handling and results in damage to the delicate mechanisms of the inner ear. While many people immediately understand the harmful impact a traumatic event can have on hearing, less understood is the accumulated damage over time of loud noise that people voluntarily subject themselves to, at places like rock concerts, sporting events, and industrial type workplaces. This is why Sony now includes a warning on all it's music players warning about hearing loss from 'unsafe' use of the player at high volumes.
The unit for measuring the level of sound is called 'decibels'. 85 decibels is considered to be the threshold at which loud or sustained noise can cause hearing loss. For comparison, a gentle whisper such as in a library would be around 30 decibels (dB). A normal conversation would be around 60 dB. And a jet engine several feet away from you would be 140 dB, well above the level of NIHL.
[Edit]2 Symptoms Of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Since most NIHL comes about gradually instead of during one catastrophic impulse of sound, it can go undetected for quite some time. The sound the person used to hear clearly slowly becomes distorted slightly, with the distortion increasing over time. If someone only recently began to ask others to repeat themselves often in conversations, this is a key sign of NIHL. NIHL can be detected and diagnosed with a hearing test performed by an audiologist.
[Edit]3 Preventing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
[http://www.deafhub.com/index.php?id=1064&no_cache=1&tx_drwiki_pi1[keyword]=Hearing%20Conservation |Hearing loss prevention] is now actively encourage, even legally enforced, in most western nations. Persons who work in noisy environments have several means of protecting their hearing from damage. Ear plugs and Ear protectors are often mandatory equipment at airports and factories where loud machinery is the norm.
[Edit]4 Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Does Any Drop In Hearing Level Mean NIHL Has Been Suffered?
A. No. Sometimes after loud impulse or continual noise, a drop in hearing level can be only temporary. This is called a 'temporary threshold shift' and hearing returns to normal levels anywhere between 16 to 48 hours after the loud noise was encountered.
Q. Who Is At Risk For NIHL?
A. People of all ages are at risk for NIHL. Research indicates that between the ages of 20 and 69, over ten million Americans presently have some level of NIHL. Exposure to NIHL can happen at home, at the work place, and in recreational settings.
Q. What Can We Do To Raise Awareness Of NIHL?
A. Many people do not see themselves at risk for NIHL. Many work place jobs require loud noise and over time workers believe they have 'gotten used' to the high level of noise and cease wearing ear plugs or other protection. Also there are many recreational events where loud noise is deemed to be a key part of the enjoyment. Sports contests, music concerts, and the like. If you've ever seen a stadium of 70,000 yelling all at once, it's obvious that over a 4 hour long game this loud sustained noise could cause NIHL if precautions are not taken. Wearing hearing protection yourself and discussing it with others at your work place and at noisy events is the best way to raise awareness of this important issue.
