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
Do the duration and closeness of exposure to loud noise relate to hearing damage?
There is a direct correlation between the duration of exposure to a loud noise and the damage to hearing. This means that the longer the exposure, the greater the damage. Furthermore, the closer one is to the source of the intense noise, the more damaging it is. An example of this is iPod hearing loss. There is an alarming increase in hearing loss in children and young adults due to listening to loud music through earplugs so close to the eardrum.
Another example is discharging firearms. The loud blast of a gun so close to the ear can cause problems for anyone not wearing ear protection.
What factors increase a person's susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss?
The following factors have been associated with an increased susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss:
- blue eyes,
- light skin,
- family history of hearing loss,
- diabetes mellitus,
- Meniere disease,
- iron
deficiency,
- vitamin A deficiency,
- older age,
- atherosclerosis (hardening of the
arteries), and
- smoking tobacco.
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