Noise Induced Hearing Loss

What is noise induced hearing loss?

Noise Induced Hearing Loss is the deterioration in the ability to detect sound due to exposure to loud noise. Chronic exposure to loud noise will lead to a loss of hearing of the high frequencies (high pitch sounds).

What is age related hearing loss?

This is the normal gradual decline in the hearing as we get older. Most of us show some signs of hearing loss after fifty years of age. The ability to hear high frequencies (high pitch sound) is the most affected. Age related hearing loss is also known as
presbyacusis.

What is the normal range of hearing?

The healthy human ear can detect sounds in the frequency range from 20 Hertz (very low bass sounds) up to 20,000 Hertz (very high pitched sound). As we age, or due to damage to the hearing organ, the frequency range gets smaller. This means that our ability to hear certain sounds becomes affected. An example of this is that when we lose some of our high frequency hearing, words that contain the sounds "s", "f”, "th" and "ch” become difficult to distinguish between. The words “deaf" and "death" both contain similar high frequency sounds on the end, but totally different meanings!

The effects of hearing loss.

As we age the high frequency sounds tend to be the first that are affected. This is because the hearing organ, known as the cochlea, contains tiny hair cells that respond to different sound frequencies, and it’s the hair cells sensitive to high frequencies that begin to degenerate first.

In a quiet environment the effect of this may go unnoticed. In a noisy environment, at a social gathering for example, the background noise can make it very difficult to converse. This is because background noise will contain many low frequency sounds that compete with the sound from the person that is talking to us. As our ability to hear the high frequencies is diminished, it may appear that the speaker is mumbling. Our ears are just picking up on the lower frequency sounds with the result that the crisp sound of words gets muffled.

Over time, as the hearing loss progresses, the low frequencies are also affected. Now it becomes difficult to talk in even quiet situations. The person with the hearing loss begins to raise his or her own voice to compensate. The television volume needs to be increased and talking on the telephone becomes very difficult, leading to possible problems of isolation and loneliness as the person withdraws from social contact. Why bother going to a function when you can’t hear the conversation? An elderly person may be mistakenly thought of as vague or even senile when the fact of the matter is that they are not hearing properly.

Tinnitus is another symptom of hearing loss, experienced as an annoying ringing or buzzing sound in the ears or head. It is often more noticeable in quiet surroundings (such as in the middle of the night) when there is an absence of competing noise.

Another possible effect of hearing loss is a phenomenon called recruitment. This condition makes it intolerable to listen to mildly loud sounds. Often elderly people will find it very difficult being around the noisy grandchildren or loud music because of recruitment.

What can I do for my hearing loss?

Hearing aids are an effective way of compensating for the loss of normal hearing range. They can make a huge difference in social situations where there is background noise affecting your ability to follow a conversation.

In the case of recruitment, a hearing aid is effective in reducing sounds perceived as being very loud by using electronic compression techniques that deliver to the ear a more comfortable level of sound.

Those experiencing tinnitus usually find that the tinnitus diminishes once the hearing is improved with a hearing aid. The noises in your head or ears will no longer be perceived as strongly.

The key to getting a good result with a hearing aid is expert fitting and advice by an audiologist. At Healthy Hearing and Balance Care we have the expertise and equipment to ensure you will get the best possible result.

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