Noise Induced Hearing Loss and Its Prevention (cont.)
James K. Bredenkamp, MD, FACS
Dr. Bredenkamp recieved his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. He then went on to serve a six year residency at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine in the department of Surgery.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- What is the importance of noise-induced hearing loss?
- What are acoustic trauma and noise-induced hearing loss?
- How can a person tell if a noisy situation is dangerous to their hearing?
- How loud can a sound get before it affects hearing?
- Do the duration and closeness of exposure to loud noise relate to hearing damage?
- What factors increase a person's susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss?
- How else can noise affect a person?
- What are the regulations regarding on-the-job exposure to noise?
- How effective are hearing protection devices?
- What are the common problems with hearing protectors?
- Do hearing protectors prevent a person from communicating with others?
- How is hearing loss identified?
- What can be done to treat hearing loss?
- Find a local Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor in your town
What are acoustic trauma and noise-induced hearing loss?
Acoustic trauma occurs when any excessive sound energy strikes the inner ear. If it is brief, the noise may cause a reversible, temporary hearing loss, technically known as a temporary threshold shift. For example, after a loud rock concert, it is common to experience hearing dullness and ringing in the ears for several hours. In this situation, if symptoms persist beyond several days, oral steroids (cortisone-type medications) may help the inner ear to recover. If the noise is loud enough and the duration of exposure long enough, however, it may cause a permanent threshold shift. This condition is called noise-induced hearing loss, which has no cure and is irreversible.
Sudden hearing loss produced by a sudden and very loud noise (blast injury) is called acute acoustic trauma. If the sound is loud enough, it can cause the eardrum to rupture or the person to have a complete loss of hearing. Sometimes, particularly if the sudden loss is total and occurs combined with dizziness, immediate surgical exploration of the ear may be necessary. In this circumstance, the ear surgeon may need to locate and patch a hole (perilymphatic fistula) between the inner ear fluid space and the middle ear space.
Picture of the Inner Ear Structure
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