Why does inner ear cell damage cause noise-induced hearing loss?

Your inner ear is covered by very small, very delicate cells called hair cells. When sounds enter your ear, they make these tiny hair cells move and react. The reaction of the hair cells sends the signal to your brain that allows you to hear.

Very loud, harmful noises disrupts the movement of the hair cells so much that they get torn and damaged. After tearing, the cells no longer work properly. The signals that they transmit to your brain may be distorted, or they may fail to send at all, causing you to have hearing difficulties.