Noise induced hearing loss

• Noise level goes up with new year celebrations, social gatherings, party, music and fire works, and so does people visiting E.N.T. and audiology clinics with hearing problems or ringing in the ear(tinnitus).
• Children and teens listening to loud music are also more prone to develop hearing loss later in life.
• People with occupations involving exposure to noise above 85 decibel are also at risk.

Too loud noise damages sensitive nerve endings in inner ear and cause sensorineural loss. Sudden exposure to loud noise may cause temporary sensorineural hearing loss which usually recovers over 24 to 48 hours. But if sound is too loud, or loud sound is too close or loud sound is exposed over a long period of time(more than 85 db), permanent sensorineural hearing loss can occur. and 85 decibels is not as loud as you will think. Sound from an ipod shuffle is usually 115 db and with firework it goes at 150 db.

Protection from noise- Unfortunately physician can not do much in sensorineural haring loss except prescribing a hearing aid. So primary aim is prevention and early detection.

• Person working in noise above 85 db should use noise protection devices-ear plugs and ear muffs. It is as simple a concept as using goggles to protect your eyes from UV rays of sun.
• people with occupations involving noise exposure should undergo periodic hearing screening (audiometry test).
• On earliest sign of noise trauma like irritability, buzzing sound in ear or difficulty in hearing visit your physician.
• Turn down the volume of television and MP3 players.