Revealed – how the noise around you is making you deaf!

Do you often visit night clubs? Check whether you are damaging your hearing ability. Here are the symptoms, causes and prevention tips.

By: Shraddha Rupavate | | Updated: March 25, 2015 6:01 pm

Hearing loss can no longer be called as an old-age condition. A study has shown that worldwide about 360 million people are suffering from hearing loss. But the shocking part is that only one third of them belong to the retirement age group. Rest all are either school-going children, young adults from colleges or the working youth.

With affordable entertainment technologies, such as handy MP3 players, iPods and touch phones, every alternate person on the street is exposed to noise-induced ear damage through headphones plugged inside their ears. Although general noise pollution also causes hearing loss, it cannot be compared to the level of noise youngsters are exposed to in discotheques and loud parties.

Also, it is not just the so called ‘party-animals’ who are at a risk of damaging their ears. But people working in discotheques including the club staff members, the DJs, the sound technicians, the bartenders and waiters are also constantly exposed to loud music on a daily basis. (Read: Obese children are likelier to suffer hearing loss)

Signs of hearing loss

Estimates show that on an average, people ignore the initial symptoms of hearing loss for almost 10 years before actually taking any action. (Read: Hearing loss or deafness: 7 facts you ought to know)

Don’t be one of them. If you show any of the below signs, consult an audiologist or an ENT specialist before you damage your ears permanently.

Subdued or distorted hearing
Difficulty in hearing low-intensity and distant sounds such as chirping of birds, ringing of alarm clock or watch alarms, telephone rings or doorbells
Difficulty in hearing television at lower volume and difficulty in hearing over cellphones
Misunderstanding group conversations and speeches. You may often ask the person to repeat things
Pain or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus) after long exposure to loud sounds

Causes of hearing loss

Hearing loss can cause damage to tiny structures or nerve fibers in deeper regions of your ears that are responsible for detecting and responding to sound. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is generally a result of exposure to loud sounds. The extent of hearing loss depends on the intensity of sound and the duration for which your ears are exposed to it. You may come across sound intensities that are harmful in your day-to-day life without even realising. For example: sound from vacuum cleaners, hair dryers, airplanes, fireworks, stereos, gun shots, ambulance, etc can be possible causes of hearing loss. (Read: Genetics linked to hearing loss (Research)

Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of deafness.

How much noise level is too much?

Ideally, you should understand that surrounding noise is dangerous for your ears if you have to shout aloud constantly to communicate with people around you or if the noise is painful for your ears and they start ringing.

Lower the level of noise you are exposed to, the longer your ears will remain safe.

Noise or loudness of sound is measured in a special unit called decibels (dB). Typical or normal chats and conversations take place at 60 dB. When the sound intensity reaches 85 dB, that’s when damage starts occurring. Regular exposure to 85dB can cause permanent hearing loss.

Anything above 85 dB accelerates ear damage. In fact, above 85dB, with every 3dB increase in sound intensity, the duration of time for which your ears can handle the noise reduces by 50%.

When you are listening to an iPod with earphones plugged in, the intensity of sound at full volume can reach 100 dB. This intensity is good enough to cause damage just within 15 minutes of exposure, if you practise it every day. Exposure to sound intensities greater than 115 dB can result in death.

Treatment and prevention of hearing loss

There is no definite cure for noise-induced hearing loss. But research on the role of antioxidants in prevention of hearing loss and restoration of hearing ability is underway. Researchers are also studying the potential of drugs like aspirin and nutrients like vitamin A, C and E to reduce the possibility of hearing loss when used prior to sound exposure.

Meanwhile, you can use these tips to protect your ears from damage:

Don’t listen to music through headphones for a long time. Even if you experience mild pain in your ear, stop listening to it immediately. Consult an ENT specialist.
Today, there are various headphones available in the market which can remove noise pollution from the background. This can eliminate the need for playing music at high volumes.
Mobile applications such as Sound Meter or Decibel Meter are worth considering as they can detect high decibel value that could be damaging your hearing function.
People working at places where exposure to loud sound is unavoidable should take 15 minutes ‘intermittent breaks by walking away from their workplace.
If you are attending any musical concert, stand away from amplifiers and speakers near the stage.
Consider wearing hearing protection such as foam earplugs or ear muffs when you know you are going to be around sounds louder than 85dB for a long period. These days you can also get customised hearing protection devices. Ask your ENT specialist about it.

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Published: January 3, 2014 6:23 pm | Updated:March 25, 2015 6:01 pm

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