Rediscover the sounds you’ve been missing
Get specialist support with noise-induced hearing loss
Inside your ear, there are sensitive hair cells that can be damaged by loud noises. This damage is irreversible — but hearing aids can help you live a full life even with permanent hearing loss.
6 signs of noise-induced hearing loss
Ringing, buzzing or fluttering sounds in the ear (known as tinnitus)
Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds that others can hear
Feeling like everyone is mumbling and frequently asking others to repeat themselves
Turning up the volume on the TV or radio (especially if others complain it’s too loud)
Finding it difficult to understand speech over the phone
Feeling pain or discomfort when hearing sounds that didn’t bother you before
Sounds familiar?
How does noise-induced hearing loss happen?
There are delicate structures inside the inner ear which maintain your hearing. If you’re exposed to excessive noise or sudden loud sounds, these structures can get damaged. Noise-induced hearing loss can be more or less severe, depending on:
- How loud the noise is
- How long you’re exposed to it
- How high-frequency it is
- Your individual susceptibility to hearing loss
It’s not possible to “toughen up” your ears by exposing yourself to loud noises. If anything, prolonged noise exposure will make hearing loss worse.
Prevention tips
- Avoiding very noisy environments where you have to shout to be heard
- Wearing ear plugs when attending concerts or nightclubs
- Using protective gear like ear muffs when exposed to hazardous noise like explosions, gunfire, or the sound of heavy machinery and power tools
- Avoid listening to very loud music over headphones
- Keep the volume on your smartphone at a reasonable level when making calls
Find out if you having hearing damage
If you’re worried about your hearing, the Ears To You mobile hearing clinic can give you an honest, professional opinion. There’s no pressure to buy treatment, just support from a hearing healthcare professional.
No more beige waiting rooms. Find a convenient time for you and our mobile clinic will come straight to your door. A hearing specialist will get to know your personal circumstances and identify your specific type of hearing loss.
You’ve got smart thermostats and a watch that tracks your fitness — why not a sleek, modern hearing aid that connects to your smartphone and improves your social life? During your appointment, you’ll find out which hearing aids are best suited to your needs and lifestyle.
Forget wait times and inconvenient locations
Where you’ll find us
Tune out the background noise Get support with your ear health and hearing aids — with fittings and follow-up care at no extra cost
Frequently asked questions
Who is most at risk from noise-induced hearing loss?
Anyone exposed to noise levels above 85 decibels (dB) is at risk of noise-induced hearing loss. The most at risk include:
- People who frequently use personal devices like smartphones or portable consoles at high volume, particularly young people.
- Workers in noisy environments like construction, manufacturing, mining, or the military.
- Musicians and people who frequently go to gigs and nightclubs where they are exposed to dangerously high levels of noise from amplified music.
- Recreational hunters or shooters. Without proper hearing protection, gunfire and explosions can cause noise-induced hearing loss.
The risk of experiencing noise-induced hearing loss increases if you’re exposed to loud noises over a long period of time. This can cause irreparable damage to the hair cells in your inner ears.
Can you recover from noise-induced hearing loss?
No, unfortunately noise-induced hearing loss is permanent. Once the delicate hair cells in the inner ear have been destroyed, they cannot be regenerated or repaired. Sometimes, people experience temporary noise trauma after brief exposure to loud noises. This is treatable and reversible. However, if the sound is loud enough or sustained over a long period of time, it’s likely that this will result in irreversible damage.
