For many Americans, long-term exposure to loud noises is an ordinary thing. However, this elevation of decibels can lay the foundation for noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL. While this issue is pervasive and problematic, it can be rectified by one of our many digital hearing aids. ION Hearing strives to provide the best assistive listening devices to our deserving customers. Our innovative process allows you to get a fitting at your local medical office before you can buy our hearing aids online. Today’s blog will cover the damages that loud noises can do to our hearing and our corrective options to restore your hearing. With ION Hearing, hearing loss can often be seen as more of a speed bump than a loss of sense.

What Is NIHL?

Noise-induced hearing loss is caused by damage to our sensitive inner ears. Typically, excessively loud noises damage and eventually kill the hair cells in our ears, also known as stereocilia. These tiny projections bump and bend against the inner ear, creating an opening for chemicals to enter the cell, thus creating the electrical signal that our brain can recognize. Unfortunately, these vital cells are not replicable in humans, meaning that any damage that is done is permanent.

NIHL can be caused by loud sounds over a long period of time or by a short, loud incident, such as an explosion. In these cases, the eardrum can rupture or the inner ear bones can become damaged. Regardless of the source, any sounds that exceed 85 decibels can cause hearing loss over time. Ear-irritating events, such as being near heavy traffic or enjoying a concert, can start to cause damage. Typically, the louder the noise, the quicker the damage is done. For many people, this can combine with other risk factors to create a high-risk scenario for your precious hearing.

How Can Hearing Enhancement Help?

Damage to the inner ear typically results in high frequency hearing loss. This means that higher-pitched sounds, such as many of our sharper consonants, cannot be picked up by the ear. Because of this specific demand, finding the perfect digital hearing aid is essential. The device itself should offer enough amplification for these higher frequencies in order to restore hearing to a suitable level.

Typically, patients with NIHL benefit the most from receiver-in-canal (RIC) hearing aids. People who wear these devices gain the benefit of being able to organically hear lower frequencies without an ear obstruction while still being able to digitally pick up the higher-pitched sounds. It is important to note that NIHL is often accompanied by tinnitus, which is a symptom of hearing damage where ringing in the ears is often heard without any external noises.