Noise induced hearing loss
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a permanent hearing loss due to exposure to excessive levels of noise which normally affects both ears equally.
Excessive noise causes damage to the small sensory hair cells in the cochlea.
These little sensitive structure need to transform sound energy into electrical signals that travels to the brain.
According to local audiologist Nicolette ten Napel, noise causes irreversible hair cell damage and unfortunately hair cells cannot grow back.
The hair cells that amplify the high frequency sounds are normally damaged first.
If these frequencies are not sufficiently controlled, audible speech starts becoming distorted and muffled which directly impacts on the person’s ability to function effectively in difficult general listening situations.
“NIHL can be caused by single exposure to a sudden intense sound like an explosion or gunshot but more commonly develops due to prolonged exposure to loud noise,” she says.
Workers in factories, mines, construction and carpentry are especially at risk but NIHL can also affect people in other occupations including police, military personnel and musicians.
Nicolette says occupational noise attributes to 16% of disabling hearing loss in adults worldwide.
The rule of thumb is that prolonged exposure compounds at or above 85dB can cause hearing loss.
The louder the decibel level exceeding 85dB, the shorter the amount of time it takes for NIHL to develop.
“Listening to a MP3 player at maximum volume (100dB) more than 15 minutes per day can potentially cause damage.
Warning signs
- Not being able to hear someone standing nearby,
- Noise hurts the ears and develops a temporary ringing or buzzing noise, and
- Ears feel blocked and decreased hearing results several hours after noise exposure.
NIHL can be avoided by taking the necessary precautionary measures, such as:
- Wearing earplugs or earmuffs.
- Reduce the sound at the source (putting machines in a muffling housing)
- Have a hearing test before commencing working in a noisy environment and go for a re-test on a yearly basis.
Nicolette says hearing aids are the best recommendation to compensate effectively for NIHL.
“It is a noisy planet, protect your hearing – a programme of the National Institutes of Health”.
Source Hearinghealthfoundation.org
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