University of Iowa Health Science Relations and
Charles V. Anderson
Associate Professor Emeritus of Speech Pathology & Audiology
First Published: 2000
Last Revised: October 2004
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

If you're in a bar or at a party where the music seems to be cranked up above screeching level, you may wish to consider giving your eardrums a break and go somewhere a little calmer, says a University of Iowa professor.

Taking occasional breaks in a quieter location may help your ears recover from the temporary shift in hearing sensitivity and possibly prevent permanent inner ear damage that could occur from continued exposure, says Dr. Charles V. Anderson, UI professor emeritus of speech pathology and audiology.

If you don't avoid noisy surroundings, you might experience "ringing ears" and feel as if your ears are stuffed with cotton. Muffled hearing is another sign that may indicate a temporary shift in your hearing sensitivity caused by overexposure to high noise levels, Anderson says.

The severity of these symptoms may vary, he says. If you're exposed to high noise levels for prolonged periods of time, permanent inner ear damage may occur, Anderson warns.

This damage occurs when cilia are destroyed. Cilia--tiny hairs that line parts of the inner ear--receive sound and convert it to electrical signals that can be perceived as sound by the brain, Anderson explains.

Destroyed cilia are not regenerated. But as there are thousands of cilia in your inner ear, permanent hearing loss is gradual and often occurs unnoticed. Your sensitivity for higher and lower tones may be the first to be affected.

Anderson notes that some recreational sport vehicles, such as motor power boats and snowmobiles, can produce noise levels that are hazardous to hearing. But, he says, with proper ear protection, you can avoid the harmful effects of noise on your ears and still enjoy your favorite recreational sport.

Many pharmacies and sporting goods stores sell "noise reducers" that block out portions of background noise. The most popular varieties are standard vinyl earplugs, "wax" ear "stoplets" and foam "stoplets," Anderson says.

The best ear plug should be able to conform to the shape of your auditory canal--the exterior tunnel leading to your eardrum, he says. Ear stoplets made of a waxy material can be molded to fit the shape of your auditory canal.

The more rigid, vinyl ear plugs can also block out some background noise if they are properly fitted to the person's ear canal.

An effective form of noise reducer that is rapidly gaining popularity is a foamlike cylinder that expands when exposed to the heat of the ear canal. This foam "stoplet" was developed for use in noisy industrial environments, and is equally useful in noisy recreational settings, Anderson says. However, the most effective prevention of noise-induced hearing loss is to avoid high levels of noise, he adds.