Harmful noises at home may come from sources including lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and woodworking tools. Recreational activities that can put you at risk for NIHL include target shooting and hunting, snowmobile riding, listening to MP3 players at high volume through earbuds or headphones, playing in a band, and attending loud concerts. NIHL can be caused by a one-time exposure to an intense “impulse” sound, such as an explosion, or by continuous exposure to loud sounds over an extended period of time, such as noise generated in a woodworking shop. Researchers have also estimated that as many as 17 percent of teens (ages 12 to 19) have features of their hearing test suggestive of NIHL in one or both ears ( Pediatrics 2011), based on data from 2005-2006.

under age 70-and perhaps as many as 40 million adults (24 percent)-have features of their hearing test that suggest hearing loss in one or both ears from exposure to loud noise. Based on a 2011-2012 CDC study involving hearing tests and interviews with participants, at least 10 million adults (6 percent) in the U.S. People of all ages, including children, teens, young adults, and older people, can develop NIHL. Who is affected by NIHL?Įxposure to harmful noise can happen at any age. Regardless of how it might affect you, one thing is certain: noise-induced hearing loss is something you can prevent.

Even if you can’t tell that you are damaging your hearing, you could have trouble hearing in the future, such as not being able to understand other people when they talk, especially on the phone or in a noisy room. It can be temporary or permanent, and it can affect one ear or both ears. NIHL can be immediate or it can take a long time to be noticeable. These sounds can damage sensitive structures in the inner ear and cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).

But sounds can be harmful when they are too loud, even for a brief time, or when they are both loud and long-lasting. Normally, these sounds are at safe levels that don’t damage our hearing. Congressional Testimony and the NIDCD BudgetĮvery day, we experience sound in our environment, such as the sounds from television and radio, household appliances, and traffic.Research Training in NIDCD Laboratories (Intramural).Types of Research Training Funding Opportunities.About NIDCD's Research Training Program.Scientific Workshop and Meeting Reports.

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