Take the Hearing Quiz
Hearing loss can occur for many reasons. Sometimes it occurs as people age. Sometimes it occurs after a long exposure to loud sounds. Learn more about hearing and hearing loss by taking this quiz.
After years of exposure to a humming refrigerator, people can develop hearing loss.
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Although long-term exposure to certain sounds can cause hearing loss, sounds of less than 75 decibels are considered safe. A humming refrigerator is about 40 decibels.
A sudden loud sound such as an explosion can damage the ear, as can long-term exposure to high levels of sound.
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This kind of sound is called an impulse sound, and the damage to the ear can be severe. This kind of hearing loss may be accompanied by tinnitus, an experience of sound like ringing, buzzing or roaring in the ears or head, which may subside over time.
If a sudden loud noise only temporarily damages the ear, hearing will return in about 8 hours.
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The average time for hearing to return after a temporary loss is about 16 hours.
More than 30 million Americans are exposed to hazardous sound levels on a regular basis. Most of these noisy environments occur at the work site.
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The workplace can be a source of noise, but the home is no quiet refuge. Harmful noises at home may come from vacuum cleaners, garbage disposals, lawn mowers, leaf blowers and shop tools. And target shooting or hunting, snowmobiles, go-carts, woodworking and other hobby equipment, power horns, cap guns and model airplanes can produce high levels of sound for hobbyists.
The best way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is to wear special earplugs or earmuffs.
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You can find these items at drug, hardware and sporting goods stores.
Children don't need to be as careful of loud noises as adults.
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Children and teens, as well as adults, can develop noise-induced hearing loss. And children may not realize the need to put on protective ear equipment when exposed to loud noise.
For people who develop noise-induced hearing loss, medication is available to reverse the damage.
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Currently, there is no treatment to reverse this type of hearing loss.
It's often difficult for a person exposed to long-term high noise levels to realize that a hearing loss has occurred.
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That's because the symptoms of this type of hearing loss increase gradually. Sounds may become distorted or muffled, and it may be difficult for the person to understand speech. The individual may not be aware of the loss, but it can be detected with a hearing test.
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