Hearing Damage

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• QHow loud does a sound have to be to cause noise-induced hearing loss?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Noise levels higher than 85 decibels can be hazardous to hearing and lead to noise-induced hearing loss.

  To get a rough estimate of noise levels, you can use a smartphone sound level meter app. To learn more about sound measurement apps, read the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Science Blog. If any of these quick screening methods indicate that noise levels may be hazardous in a workplace, companies should conduct a complete noise survey. 

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• QWhat is noise-induced hearing loss?

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  A Challenge America answered

  Noise-induced hearing loss happens as a result of hearing harmful noise, sounds that are incredibly loud, or noise that lasts for hours on end. With noise-induced hearing loss, the tiny hair cells in the cochlea, a fluid-filled organ, that send electrical impulses to the brain are injured. Once these tiny hair cells are damaged, they cannot be treated nor will they grow back.

  Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is the preeminent diagnosis for the US soldiers in Afghanistan, according to the Deafness Research Foundation. In fact, it’s thought that more than 65 percent of war veterans from Afghanistan have hearing damage -- and many do not know it.  Also, World War II veterans have an alarming incidence of hearing loss. While more of our veterans and military personnel are surviving war, they are suffering long-term from problems such as hearing loss that is direct result of hazardous noise exposure.

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• QWhat are the symptoms of noise-induced hearing loss?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  For most people with noise-induced hearing loss, the damage to their hearing increases over time of exposure. This means that symptoms slowly get worse the longer you are exposed to loud sounds. Generally, these symptoms include previously-clear sounds seeming unclear or warped, and an inability to follow conversations at normal volumes. Because symptoms usually come on so slowly, it may be difficult for a person to be able to tell when they start suffering from noise-induced hearing loss. You may also experience a ringing sound in your ears (called tinnitus) which usually goes away with time.

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• QCan noise-induced hearing loss be prevented?

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  A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Prevention of noise-induced hearing loss is possible, but you must first reduce your exposure to loud noise. In other words, break your habit with loudness!  Of course, this is virtually impossible for soldiers and military personnel who are bombarded with gunfire, vibrations, blasts and explosions daily. Still, you can take precautionary steps by wearing special earmuffs or ear plugs.

  Also, if you are attending a concert, wear ear plugs to protect your hearing and to prevent nerve damage or destruction to the delicate tissues in the ears. If you are using power equipment, wear ear plugs. Or if you travel frequently, consider using ear plugs to lower the exposure to noise and vibrations caused by the airplane.

  Most importantly, get your hearing tested annually by an otolaryngologist. This is a medical doctor who specializes in diseases of the ears, nose, throat, neck and head. A hearing test is especially important if you have had a lot of loud noise exposure or are concerned about symptoms of hearing loss.

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• QHow is hearing loss measured?

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  A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  There are different ways to measure hearing loss but a formal audiogram that tests the ability to hear pure tones is the best way to measure hearing loss and check on treatment. A hearing test such as audiogram can be done at any age. The audiogram is performed by a trained audiologist, a professional who specializes in identifying and assessing hearing and balance disorders.

  Using a soundproof testing booth, the audi bologist projects varying sounds into a person’s ear based on intensity (loudness) and tone or the speed of vibrations. A complete audiogram will test both the bone conduction (the ability to hear a sound when it transmitted through bone) and the air conduction (the ability to hear a sound when it is transmitted through air). The louder the sounds have to be in order to be heard, the greater the degree of hearing loss. The audiologist will compare the two types of conduction to see which part of your ear is responsible for any hearing loss. The results of audiograms are most often displayed in graph form.

• QWhat are the symptoms of presbycusis?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  The main symptom of presbycusis is difficulty hearing. The condition first affects the ability to hear high-pitched sounds. The first noticeable symptom is a difficulty in understanding what people are saying. It may be particularly hard to make out the speech of women and children since they tend to have higher pitched voices. Background noise, as in a restaurant, may make it more difficult to hear conversation. Some sounds may seem louder; some similar speech sounds may be indistinguishable from each other. You may have ringing in the ears. 

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• QWhat are the symptoms that I may have hearing loss?

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  A Dr. Jeanne Morrison, PhD , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  The symptoms of hearing loss can vary, depending on the cause of the hearing loss and the emotional nature of the individual. Some people with hearing loss have difficulty following conversations in a group or have trouble hearing high-pitched voices such as young children or a woman speaking. Repeatedly turning up the volume on the radio or television may be another symptom of hearing loss. Also, if you find that you’re watching people’s faces instead of listening to their voices, you may have hearing loss. Hearing loss has emotional symptoms, too. For example, you may have been a highly social individual and then you suddenly avoid large groups or gatherings because you cannot hear what’s being said. Or, you may feel agitated with family members because you cannot hear what they are saying.

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• QWhat causes hearing loss?

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  A Dr. Eric E. Smouha, MD , Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology), answered on behalf of The Mount Sinai Health System

  There can be many causes of hearing loss. Among the most common are:

  • Ear infections
  • Certain medications—some are reversible and some are irreversible. For instance, high doses of aspirin can cause hearing loss, but the effect is reversed when the dose is reduced or discontinued. Certain chemotherapy agents, for instance, Cisplatinum, can cause irreversible hearing loss.
  • Excessive noise exposure
  • Heredity;
  • Birth defects;
  • Traumatic injury (such as a head injury);
  • Tumors;
  • The natural aging process. About 30 percent of people over the age of 60 have hearing loss. It is the third most common chronic problem affecting the aging population.

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• QWhat is mixed hearing loss?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  When there is a sensorineural hearing loss along with a conductive factor it is referred to as a mixed hearing loss. Alongside irreversible hearing loss from nerve cell damage or injury to the hair cells in the cochlea, there is a conjoining problem with how the middle ear works. This combination of hearing problems creates a far worse situation than happens with sensorineural hearing loss alone. There are usually effective medications or surgical treatment for the conductive factor such as antibiotics for ear infections. Still, the sensorineural part of the hearing loss is almost always permanent and irreversible and may be treated with a hearing aid or assistive listening devices (ALDs).
• QWhat are hearing loss symptoms from ototoxic drugs?

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  A Diana Meeks , Family Medicine, answered on behalf of Sigma Nursing

  Hearing loss symptoms as a result of taking ototoxic drugs can vary depending on the particular ototoxic drug, the dosage, and the combination of ototoxic medications. Even after taking one dose of an ototoxic medication, people can have noticeable hearing loss yet not experience true symptoms for weeks to months after ingesting the drug. In fact, studies show that people who take ototoxic drugs may not be aware of true hearing loss until they experience symptoms of dizziness and speech and communication problems that signify damage to the vestibular system has occurred.

  The vestibular system and the cochlea are part of the body’s auditory system and contribute to our sense of balance, equilibrium, and hearing, among other sensory feelings.  Hearing loss symptoms from ototoxicity can worsen if the person is exposed to loud or excessive noise before taking the ototoxic drugs or during the drug treatment.