Senior Health

2/25/2020 | By Seniors Guide Staff

At Coates Hearing Clinic, we are committed to helping our patients learn about hearing loss treatments and causes.  As a part of that commitment, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr. Gail M. Seigel from the Center for Hearing & Deafness at the University of Buffalo.  She works in the laboratory of ocular and auditory neuroscience where she studies, among other things, how loud noise exposure can result in permanent hearing loss.  Many of our patients report a loud noise exposure event as the beginning of their hearing loss issues.  Dr. Seigel explains how this type of hearing loss happens and how to prevent it.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss: More than meets the ear

What is noise-induced hearing loss?

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a hearing deficit caused by exposure to loud sound. The onset of NIHL can be sudden, as in the case of a bomb blast, or more insidious, as in the case of repeated exposure to loud music or a loud workplace over time. Signs of NIHL may manifest as the inability to hear conversations in a noisy room, acute ear discomfort following loud noise exposure, and/or tinnitus (a ringing sound in the ears). NIHL is a widespread public health issue. According to the Centers for Disease Control, somewhere between 10-40 million people under age 70 in the U.S. have hearing test results suggestive of NIHL. [1]

How does excessive noise cause hearing loss?

In order to understand how noise causes hearing loss, we need to know a bit about the mechanics of hearing. Under normal conditions, external sounds enter the ear through the auricle, the visible part of the outer ear. From there, the sound waves are funneled through the auditory canal to the tympanic membrane (a.k.a. the ear drum). The tympanic membrane absorbs some of the sound, which causes it to vibrate. These sound waves are conveyed through vibrations that are passed on through the small bones in the middle ear (the malleus, the incus and the stapes) to the sensitive hair cells of the cochlea in the inner ear. The hair cells of the cochlea transmit the sound wave information as nerve impulses via the auditory nerve to the auditory cortex of the brain for processing and analysis. The end result of auditory processing allows you to distinguish between the sounds of a dog barking and a creaky floor.

Under damaging noise conditions, the cochlea is particularly vulnerable. Exposure to loud noise can lead to a loss of hair cells in the cochlea, degeneration of the auditory nerve, as well as damage to the auditory cortex of the brain. Recent work by our lab has shown that the cochlear nucleus of the brain attempts to repair itself after loud noise exposure [2]. We saw reorganization and repair activities in the cochlear nucleus for at least four weeks following loud noise exposure. Other studies have shown that inflammation can occur in the brain following noise exposure [3]. These experiments and others suggest that even a brief exposure to very intense noise can lead to long-lasting effects, not only in the inner ear, but also in the auditory processing portions of the brain. In other words, noise-induced hearing loss involves not only the structures of the inner ear, but also the hearing centers of the brain itself.

How to prevent NIHL

The best way to prevent NIHL is to avoid loud noises. Since this is not always possible, there are other strategies you can use to protect your ears from damaging sounds. One option is to keep a set of earplugs with you for rock concerts, sporting events and other loud venues. If you find yourself in a loud place without ear protection, try to create as much distance as possible between yourself and the source of the loud noise. Spread the word about hearing protection to friends and family, with special attention to young children who may rely on you to protect their sensitive ears.

Evaluation of NIHL

If you suspect NIHL (or hearing loss in general), a hearing health professional can evaluate how well you can hear specific sound frequencies (measured in kilohertz, kHz) and intensities of sound (measured in decibels, dB) in each ear as you listen to various test sounds with headphones. If hearing loss is significant, hearing aids can amplify sounds and improve hearing perception for a better quality of life.

Good luck and may all the sounds you hear be pleasant ones!

By Gail M. Seigel, Ph.D.

Laboratory of Ocular and Auditory Neuroscience

Center for Hearing & Deafness

University at Buffalo

Article sponsored by Coates Hearing Clinic, and can be found on their Hearing Blog:

Seniors Guide Staff


Seniors Guide Staff