Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can happen after exposure to harmful, loud noise. It might be temporary or permanent, and anyone can get it. You can take steps to prevent NIHL, like wearing ear protection when necessary.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) occurs when loud noises damage the structures in your inner ear. Most of the time, the sounds in our everyday environment — like TV, traffic and ambient conversations — are at a safe level. But there are times when sounds become too loud (explosions) or last for too long (on-the-job machinery). This can lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
Depending on the type and extent of damage, noise-induced hearing loss can be temporary or permanent. Unlike other types of hearing loss, NIHL is preventable.
Noise-induced hearing loss is common. According to research, NIHL affects:
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There are a few things that could mean you’re losing your hearing from loud noise. Depending on the cause of NIHL, symptoms may be immediate or you may develop them over time. Some of the most common symptoms of NIHL include:
Symptoms can last minutes, hours or days after noise exposure ends. Your hearing may return to normal, but you still have damage. Your hearing may eventually come back, but continued exposure to loud noises can further damage your hearing and make hearing loss permanent.
Noise-induced hearing loss occurs when loud sounds damage the hair cells in your inner ear. Once damaged, these cells can’t heal or regenerate (grow back).
The extent of hearing loss depends on what caused NIHL.
There are two types of NIHL:
A decibel is a unit used to measure the degree of loudness or the intensity of a sound. Noises at or above 85 decibels (dB) can damage your hearing over time. A single loud noise at or above 120 decibels (dB) can cause immediate hearing loss.
Here are some examples of everyday noises and their sound levels measured in decibels:
Noises in your environment | Average sound level (dB) |
---|---|
Breathing | 10 |
Whispering | 30 |
Air conditioning | 60 |
Washing machine | 70 |
Lawnmower (gas-powered) | 80 |
Motorcycle | 95 |
Max level on most music players | 110 |
Nearby emergency siren | 120 |
Gunshot | 140 |
Firecrackers | 150 |
Noises in your environment | |
Breathing | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
10 | |
Whispering | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
30 | |
Air conditioning | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
60 | |
Washing machine | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
70 | |
Lawnmower (gas-powered) | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
80 | |
Motorcycle | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
95 | |
Max level on most music players | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
110 | |
Nearby emergency siren | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
120 | |
Gunshot | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
140 | |
Firecrackers | |
Average sound level (dB) | |
150 |
Anyone can develop noise-induced hearing loss. But wearing hearing protection like ear plugs or earmuffs significantly reduces your risk. You don’t have to miss out on concerts, fireworks and other things you love. Just be sure to give your ears a little TLC.
People who have jobs in noisy environments are particularly vulnerable to NIHL. Jobs and industries with the highest risk of occupational hearing loss include:
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When you can’t hear as well as you used to, it can have a noticeable impact on your quality of life. You might feel less sociable or more frustrated in general. Or you might feel tired all the time from straining to hear things in your surroundings.
In addition to hearing loss, NIHL can cause:
If you think you might have NIHL, talk to your primary care physician or a healthcare provider. They can refer you to an audiologist or otolaryngologist for hearing tests.
Specialists use multiple hearing tests to diagnose NIHL. This helps them determine whether additional factors could contribute to your hearing loss.
A healthcare provider will run several tests to diagnose noise-induced hearing loss, which may include:
They may run additional tests, including:
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Hearing aids are the go-to NIHL treatment. But if noise-induced hearing loss worsens over time, hearing aids may not give you enough benefit. In these cases, your provider might recommend other options like cochlear implants.
In some cases, your provider might try corticosteroids to ease your symptoms. These medications can reduce inflammation in cases of acoustic trauma.
While you can’t reverse existing damage, you can reduce your risk for future deterioration.
Following these guidelines can help you prevent noise-induced hearing loss:
A research study in Austria found that it’s possible to determine your susceptibility to NIHL by measuring temporary hearing loss, also known as temporary threshold shift (TTS). This test can tell you how quickly the cells in your inner ear recover after noise exposure, which can be beneficial for preventing NIHL.
If you have noise-induced hearing loss, start protecting your ears now. Consider carrying earplugs with you, especially if you frequently go to concerts, gun ranges or other loud environments.
While healthcare providers can’t cure NIHL, there are treatments that can help improve your hearing. If you think you have noise-induced hearing loss, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider.
You should tell your healthcare provider if you:
Yes. Hearing loss can severely impact your quality of life. In addition to damaging your hearing, harmful noise has been linked to:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Noise-induced hearing loss can have a significant negative impact on your quality of life. You may have difficulty following conversation or communicating with friends and family. This can ultimately lead to an avoidance of social situations. Fortunately, noise-induced hearing loss can often be successfully managed with hearing aids or implants.
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can hamper life’s simple pleasures. Maybe you can’t hear the birds singing in the park like you used to. Or maybe you strain to understand conversations in a crowded restaurant. While you can’t undo ear trauma, you can protect your ears from further damage. If you’ve already lost hearing due to loud environments, there are treatments that can help. Talking to a healthcare provider is a great place to start.
Last reviewed on 06/12/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy