Support for Those Experiencing Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Our Community
Active-duty soldiers, those who work in construction, forestry, or manufacturing, and those who use heavy equipment are most often at risk of developing NIHL. However, it can also be a significant problem for musicians and those in the entertainment industry, as well as those who use headphones or earbuds at an unsafe volume.
At Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic we are especially concerned with hearing loss and potential hearing loss linked to excess noise exposure. As such, we are doing everything we can to make sure that individuals struggling with NIHL in Port Credit and the greater Mississauga community have access to the solutions and support they need.
Causes of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
Your inner ear has microscopic hair cells that respond by moving to the sound vibrations from the middle ear and then convert them into electrical signals the brain needs to interpret sounds.
Exposure to an extreme noise event, or to loud noise at various frequencies for an extended period, damages or breaks these delicate hair cells, causing you to lose hearing at various frequencies.
Damage from a single extreme event, like a blast (explosion) over 120 decibels, can cause NIHL, and the resulting shockwave may rupture the eardrum and damage the structures of the middle ear as well.
Ongoing exposure to sounds above 85 decibels over an extended period, whether in an occupational setting (heavy equipment and machinery), from recreational noises (shooting, hunting, fireworks), or from loud music, can also damage your hearing temporarily and permanently.
What Are Some Signs You Might Be Experiencing NIHL?
The signs that you might be experiencing noise-induced hearing loss are similar to those associated with sensorineural hearing loss, such as:
- Straining to hear
- Speaking louder than necessary
- Constantly asking others to repeat themselves
- Misunderstanding conversations in noisy environments
- Favouring your “good” ear
- Thinking that others mumble
- Turning the television louder than usual
- Struggling to understand conversations on the telephone
- Withdrawing from social events
- Ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in one or both ears
Everyone experiences NIHL in a different way. Some experience immediate signs, while it takes time for it to develop in others. The condition can be temporary or permanent and can affect just one ear or both ears.
Are You at Risk of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
To know if you are at risk of developing NIHL at your workplace or in other environments, ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the noise cause discomfort or is it aggravating?
- Are you shouting when you talk to someone less than one metre away?
- Do you experience temporary hearing loss after being exposed to loud noise, which returns to normal by the next day?
- Do you experience ringing in the ears after exposure to loud noise?
- Are you using vibrating or noisy tools throughout your work day (e.g., power saws, blowers, hammers)?
- Is your work environment noisy (e.g., demolition, foundries, mining)?
- Are impact noises (e.g., metal hitting metal) a common part of your work?
- Do you work in close proximity to or are you enclosed in an area with identified noise sources?
Your responses to these questions will determine whether you are either at risk or already experiencing hearing loss related to noise.
Treatment for NIHL
Treatment for NIHL begins with a comprehensive hearing assessment to accurately diagnose your hearing challenges. The information collected during your hearing assessment will be used to develop a customized treatment plan to address your specific hearing needs.
Treatments can range from lifestyle changes and hearing protection for those who have normal hearing but are at high risk of developing NIHL, to hearing aids to help restore damaged hearing in those already effected by NIHL.
Is There Financial Support for the Treatment of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
An investment in better hearing can be a financial burden for many of the individuals in our community. That’s why our professionals are eager to help you get the financial help you need from your health insurance policy or through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB).
You may not be covered by your insurance or WSIB, or your insurance may not provide enough help to meet your needs, but that doesn’t mean you have to put off getting hearing care services. We have access to other available resources to minimize the financial burden and start you on your journey to better hearing.
Contact us to learn more about the financial assistance available for those with NIHL.
Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aids Can Help
The most common cause of hearing loss is related to deterioration of the ears nerve structures with age, but noise-induced hearing loss is a close second and anyone, regardless of age, can experience NIHL due to an extreme noise event or ongoing exposure to loud noise.
The team at Port Credit Audiology & Hearing Aid Clinic is doing everything possible to encourage anyone in our community who is at risk of developing NIHL, or who may already be experiencing hearing loss, to have their hearing tested.
Take the first step to better hearing by scheduling a comprehensive hearing assessment or calling us at (905) 990-3755 today!
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