I have a difficult question about hearing loss?
chumptheory asked:
My doctor told me theres two types of hearing loss. A Temporary threshold shift which is temporary hearing loss and a permanent shift which results in the ear being exposed to loud sounds everyday.
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My doctor told me theres two types of hearing loss. A Temporary threshold shift which is temporary hearing loss and a permanent shift which results in the ear being exposed to loud sounds everyday.
Now if this is the case, would it be cool if I just went to arcades without ear plugs about once every 6 months or so? Or will it give me hearing loss?
January 26th, 2009 at 4:32 am
Most hearing loss is hereditary and will occur whether or not you are exposed to loud sounds, although that will make it happen quicker.
January 28th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Each and every time you are exposed to noise you permanently kill off some of the hair cells (receptors) in your ears. The louder or longer you listen the more die off (ie. a shotgun blast can do the same damage as a 2 hour concert if the noise is weighted the same). The difference with a temporary threshold shift (TTS) is that due to swelling of the delicate membrane in the cochlea from being violently stimulated from the loud noise there is a noticeable change in hearing levels, which tends to subside as the swelling decreases and you “sleep it off”. However, any number of those hair cells is permanently killed off.
I would like to clarify for you that permanent loss does not only occur from exposure every day (like working in a factory). I have seen many cases with one single noise exposure causing enough hair cell damage to measure a loss on a hearing test. Because noise exposure is cumulative throughout your life (the hair cells don’t grow back and more and more die off each time you are exposed throughout your lifetime) you are always wise to to be conscious of your hearing and protect it, unless the possibility of needing to wear a hearing aid later in life is appealing to you.
My advice is instead of going to arcades once every six months, get yourself a good pair of comfortable earplugs that you like. Musician or “hi fi” earplugs are great because you can hear through them to talk to people. You can buy them for $12 a pair at.