Hearing Loss and Loud Music

Have you ever sat next to someone on the train and heard every word of their phone conversation… and they weren’t on speaker phone? Or maybe sat across from someone at a local coffee shop and casually head-bobbed along to the music you could hear from their headphones?

We’ve all had these types of situations occur when we, hopefully, paused and thought to ourselves “Hmm, I wonder if they realize their music is way too loud?” Unfortunately, this is becoming a serious issue in our world today. More and more patients are being seen with what is called ‘noise induced hearing loss’ due to exposure to loud music.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss

In general, we assume hearing loss is for the elderly population, but according to recent studies published by the American Academy of Audiology, some 5 million people between the ages of 5 and 19 are presenting with noise induced hearing loss. What may also be surprising, is that over half of the hearing-impaired population are under the age of 65! This type of information sometimes can be staggering when we realize that it is actually preventable.

Noise induced hearing loss is hearing loss that results from excessively loud sound. This can be from listening to earbuds too loud to compensate for louder room noise when listening to music. It can be from attending loud concerts without proper hearing protection. It can even come from extended exposure to noises even at a moderate volume.

Effects of Noise Induced Hearing Loss

You may be asking yourself, what exactly happens when this type of hearing loss occurs? The effect of hearing loss from noise is a process by which the auditory pathway is overloaded and hair cell damage occurs.

Hair cells are different than regular cells within the body. Hair cells are actually microscopic “hairs” that respond, essentially, to sound waves. Sound enters the ear at what is medically labeled the pinna. Most people simply call it the ear. Once sound is funneled into the ear canal, the sound reaches the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum. Sound is then transferred from sound waves into actual anatomical responses or vibrations, which is known as mechanical energy.

Next, sound is transferred through our middle ear space (behind the eardrum, but before the cochlea) through a series of movements between small bones in the middle ear cavity. This sound is then transferred from the middle ear space to the inner ear. The inner ear space is fluid filled and responds to the movement of different bones and membranes that came from the middle ear. The inner ear actually houses these very small, microscopic, hair cells that respond to sound. The hair cells are tonotopically arranged, which refers to the fact that the hair cells range from low frequency response to high frequency response inside the inner ear throughout the cochlea.

These hair cells are so incredibly sensitive to sound that they can be damaged when sound comes in too abruptly. Sound that is too loud may actually overstimulate these hair cells and lead to hair cell death and hearing loss. Just visualize a large dump truck rolling through a delicate flower garden, and you’ll have your image. When these hair cells are damaged or die, there are essentially no recovery options for them. At this point in time in the medical world, there is no way to re-grow dead or dying cochlear hair cells. This area of study is continued to be researched as, according to the Hearing Loss Association of America, hearing loss effects almost 50 million Americans.

Raising Awareness on Dangerous Decibels

The American Academy of Audiology along with its Foundation are spreading the word about noise-induced hearing loss. They are partnering with rapper Ben Jackson in order to raise awareness for hearing protection and hearing conservation. For more information about the American Academy of Audiology and their co-campaign with Ben Jackson, visit https://www.turnittotheleft.org.

Often, audiologists, or doctors who diagnose and treat hearing (and balance) disorders, abide by a general 60/60 rule. If the volume of what you’re listening to is at approximately 60% volume for approximately 60 minutes or less, you are essentially in the safe zone when it comes to your hearing. However, this is not always the case depending on the output of the speakers or headphones with which you’re listening.

All in all, wear earplugs when you know you’re going to be exposing your ears to hazardous noise or music levels. Wear hearing protection even if you’re unsure. Finally, as a courtesy to the people around you along with your hearing health in mind, don’t listen to music so loud that the person in the aisle seat can hear your music from your window seat. 

Have you experienced changes in your hearing or are worried about exposure to loud sounds? Contact us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services today for a hearing test. 

For more information, contact us at Orange County Physicians’ Hearing Services today.