It’s extremely common for people to have hearing loss caused by continued subjection to loud noise. Your hearing can be permanently damaged if you spend a lot of time exposed to noise that exceeds 85 dB.
Exactly How Does Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Work?
This is a kind of sensorineural hearing loss where hair cells inside of your inner ear are permanently destroyed by noise.
A progressive degeneration of hearing, eventually bringing about permanent hearing loss, develops when you are exposed to very loud noise for a long period of time. Immediate damage can also occur if you are exposed to a burst of exceptionally damaging noise all at once.
More than 17 percent of individuals between the ages of 20 and 69 have hearing loss that is caused by their work or recreational activities. Some examples of noises that can result in hearing loss might include:
- Jet engines
- Chainsaws
- Jackhammers
- Nearby fireworks
- Loud volume on earphones
- Emergency Vehicles
- Busy Traffic
- Motorcycles
Is it Reversible?
There is currently no remedy for noise-induced hearing loss (though scientists are hard at work on it). Some of the damage inside your ear might be caused by inflammation so you need to talk to a doctor if you’ve been subjected to sudden loud noise. If you could minimize the inflammation you might be able to reduce some permanent damage. The hair cells in your inner ear are in control of transmitting waves of sound to your brain. They never regenerate once they are ruined. So once they’re gone, irreversible hearing impairment is the consequence. This is why it is critical that you take the necessary steps to safeguard your hearing, and if you’re exposed to a loud noise, that you consult a specialist right away.
Research to Tackle The Issue
This condition is presently incurable. However, researchers are searching for ways to restore noise-related hearing loss. For instance, some studies are in clinical trials right now that are testing whether a drug can repair the growth of the little hairs in the ear. Age-induced hearing loss and loud noise can harm these hairs, but regrowth would help restore hearing if researchers are capable of getting the drug to work.
What Hearing Remains Needs to be Safeguarded
While hearing loss that is caused by noise cannot be restored (yet), you are capable of taking certain measures to prevent hearing loss or save the remaining hearing that you have. You can:
- Use the appropriate hearing protection devices, such as earmuffs or earplugs if you work in places with consistently loud noises
- Get tested routinely
- Manage any hearing loss you have with hearing aids
- Stay away from areas that constantly have loud noises
- When you’re at home, minimize your exposure to excessively loud activities
Keeping the volume down on your devices, wearing ear protection, and staying away from overly loud noise is the best way to safeguard your hearing. Make an appointment for a hearing test if you have been exposed to loud noise.