Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL) is a very common cause of hearing loss. Noise damages the cochlea which is the part of the ear that puts sound information onto nerves to the brain. The damage is generally to the base of the cochlea which deals with high frequency sounds. This is the same part that is affected by the aging process. The 2 types of damage ‘add’ so the affects of age related hearing loss are much worse. It is important to avoid noise exposure in your younger life. If you are routinely in a situation where sound levels are excessive you should have regular hearing tests.
NIHL can be caused by work noise or leisure noise. Both are preventable using hearing protection. Once your hearing has gone it will not come back. Tinnitus, or ringing in the ear, is often associated with NIHL. It is well known that musicians can experience hearing loss due to excessive sound exposure. There is now evidence that noise from MP3 players can be harmful to hearing. Hearing proection devices are available for all situations.