SPONSORED CONTENT
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
SPONSORED CONTENT
EFFECTS OF
NOISE
ON HEARING
Someone once said that one person ’ s definition of noise is another person ’ s description of music . In short , one person ’ s music is another person ’ s noise . In either perception of noise , the effects include a masking of speech sounds , which makes it difficult to understand the spoken word . If someone has a hearing loss , the noisy background is doubly worse because the consonants are not heard clearly . The consonants carry the intelligibility of the English language and those speech sounds are adversely affected in the presence of loud background noise .
A review of how we hear will help to explain the effects of noise on the ear and hearing . First , sound waves from a noisy source enter the ear canal and cause the eardrum to vibrate . Vibrations pass through three connected bones in the middle ear . The inner ear is fluid-filled and receives these vibrations , which sets fluid moving in the inner ear . The moving fluid bends thousands of delicate hair-like cells , which convert the vibrations into nerve impulses that are carried to the brain by the auditory nerve . In the brain , these impulses are converted into what we hear as sound ( speech , music or noise ).
When hearing loss occurs due to noise , the hair-like cells inside the inner ear are damaged and cannot convert the sound vibrations wholly into nerve impulses . The distorted consonants that reach the brain are heard but not perceived clearly . The hair-like cells are not replaceable parts so when they are damaged beyond repair , permanent hearing loss occurs .
How loud is too loud is a question that can be best answered by knowing something about dangerous decibels . Any noise louder than 85 decibels is a potential hazard to your hearing . The louder the sound , the faster it causes harm . Some examples are as follows :
NOISE LEVEL
SOURCE IN DECIBELS SAFE EXPOSURE
Gunshot . ......................... 140 ........... none Jackhammer ..................... 130 ........... 3.8 minutes Rock Concert ..................... 120 ........... 7.5 minutes Power Drill ....................... 100 ........... 2 hours Lawn Mower ..................... 90 ............ 8 hours Vacuum Cleaner .................. 80 ............ no limit
There are practical steps you can take to protect the inner ear from excessive noise , namely earplugs or earmuffs . The important thing is not the brand of earplug as much as the proper and consistent use of hearing protection devices . When you are not sure whether to bother with the plugs , take a simple test : If you have to shout to be heard when you ’ re three feet from someone , it ’ s time to put them in .
Audiometric testing determines how much hearing loss is present due to excessive noise exposure . If the hearing loss damage is not medically or surgically correctable , then amplification may be the treatment of choice . Southwestern Hearing Care under Dr . Roger Angelelli , Licensed Audiologist , can provide the necessary amplification to improve the clarity and audibility that was taken away by one of the major causes of hearing loss .
This Industry Insight was written by Roger M . Angelelli .
Roger M . Angelelli , Ph . D . licensed Pennsylvania Audiologist , received his Ph . D . in audiology from the University of Pittsburgh . Dr . Angelelli is also a course director for CAOHC ( council for accreditation in occupational hearing conservation ) and teaches ( 4 ) CAOHC workshop courses , annually . Dr . Angelelli has also been a dispenser of hearing aids since 1980 at Southwestern Hearing Care , Inc .
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