"To put it in the context of daily living, that is about the level of a vacuum cleaner and slightly softer than most shop tools or lawnmowers. Even brief exposure to louder noises, like the blast from a shotgun or a loud concert, can damage the inner ear.

"Noise damages the sensory cells and nerve endings in the inner ear. Initially, if the noise is limited, some of the damage is reversible. However, over time, the sensory cells and nerve endings are lost and since they are not capable of regeneration the damage becomes permanent," Hansen says.

Most people are unaware of the initial stages of hearing loss, Hansen says, and only become aware when it starts to affect their ability to understand what others are saying to them or causing ringing in the ears. By then most have suffered at least a moderate amount of damage.

"Nearly everyone loses some hearing as they age. The rate and extent of hearing loss depends on hereditary as well as environmental factors. Noise exposure will accelerate the natural course of age related hearing loss.

"The first symptom is often tinnitus or a noise or ringing in the ear. Other symptoms include difficulty understanding certain words, especially when there is background noise, Hansen says.

Noise induced hearing loss is entirely preventable, Hansen says, either by avoiding the noise altogether or wearing proper protection if you must work in a noisy environment. "While noise levels are monitored in many work environments, many people fail to take proper precautions to reduce recreational noise exposure from things such as headphones, guns, motorcycles or power tools.

"Most forms of hearing loss, including that caused by excessive noise is not reversible. That is why it is so important to prevent it from occurring in the first place," Hansen says.

Treatment depends on the extent of hearing loss. People with moderate levels of hearing loss often benefit from hearing aids. However, hearing aids often do not help patients with more severe forms of hearing loss. These patients often require an implantable hearing prosthesis called a cochlear implant.

"Most people are not aware of the difficulty that hearing loss will cause, not only for them, but also the frustration it causes for their friends and family. By the time you are aware of the damage, it is usually permanent and irreversible. That is why it is important to take precautions to protect your hearing before the damage begins," Hansen says.

For more information:

Marlan Hansen, MD