High-decibel noises are dangerous for your hearing and are often the reason for an inner ear injury known as acoustic trauma. A single exposure to just one loud noise or prolonged exposure to high-decibel noises over a period of time can cause acoustic trauma.
Head injuries can cause acoustic trauma if the eardrum is ruptured, as well as any other injuries. Not only does your eardrum transmit signals to the brain via small vibrations, but it also protects the middle and inner ear. Damage to the way those small vibrations are transmitted can result in hearing loss. When sound moves into the inner ear, it causes a threshold shift which can result in hearing loss.
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Here are some causes
Causes of Acoustic Trauma
All it takes is one significant exposure to a high-decibel sound to cause acoustic trauma. A sudden, powerful sound such as an explosion or blast wave can lead to damaged eardrums and conductive hearing loss. You’ve likely experienced a period of reduced hearing at some point after being exposed to loud sounds or a noisy environment such as a concert or night club. This is typically a temporary hearing impairment that will improve after a brief recovery time.
You may be suffering from permanent acoustic trauma if the hearing impairment continues. Typically, a person with an acoustic trauma is only able to hear within a narrow frequency close to 4kHz. Having a limited range of high-frequency tones makes it challenging to hear in certain daily situations or noisy environments. In this case, a hearing aid may be necessary.
Symptoms of Acoustic Trauma
The main symptom of acoustic trauma is hearing loss. Sudden loud noises above 130 decibels can damage your ear structure, such as the ear’s natural microphone, known as the organ of Corti, or the small muscles in the ear known as the tensor tympani muscle. In most instances of long-term sound damage, you will have trouble hearing high-frequency sounds in the beginning, then later on lower frequencies may become difficult.
Tinnitus is a type of hearing injury that causes a buzzing or ringing sound and is an important indicator of early on-set acoustic trauma. Persistent or chronic tinnitus can be caused by drug use, changes to blood vessels, and exposure to loud noises.
No matter what type or the severity of your acoustic trauma, hearing impairment impacts your quality of life. Daily interactions and activities can go from enjoyable to frustrating when living with distracting buzzing or hissing. It’s in your best interest to meet with an audiologist with years of experience providing the best treatment options and hearing solutions for tinnitus patients available.
When you need a tinnitus doctor near me, the audiologists at Sound Relief have extensive experience finding the best solutions to increase tinnitus patients’ abilities to hear, including hearing aids and tinnitus sound therapy options. The hearing center accepts most insurance carriers and offers payment plans to help tinnitus patients cover the cost of their treatment options. There is no cure for severe tinnitus, but there are treatments and hearing solutions to help you regain your quality of life.
Hearing Impairment From Personal Injury
Experiencing a traumatic accident injury to the head in a car accident can lead to hearing impairment. The roadways and highways of Southern California are dangerous, and many motorists become car accident victims due to negligence, distraction, and recklessness such as drunk drivers, says Orange County car accident lawyer Kevin Crockett. There are several common injuries resulting from automobile accidents, including catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other severe injuries resulting in medical expenses.
The first step victims of negligent drivers should take following a crash or collision is to seek the legal advice of an experienced car accident attorney. Legal representation is the best way to win fair compensation in a personal injury case, no matter what type of accident.
According to California car accident lawyer Daniel Kim Law, you deserve the maximum compensation for the medical costs and ongoing medical care related to serious injuries. Insurance companies are notorious for not giving a fair settlement to victims of motor vehicle accidents, which is why you need the best car accident lawyer in Los Angeles. This law firm offers a free case evaluation to accident victims to assess their legal options and figure out how to win the most amount of money possible.
Hearing loss caused by acoustic trauma can impact your overall quality of life, which is why you need to take reasonable care of your hearing. Get a hearing test from a professional audiologist at the first sign of hearing loss, and start taking charge of your hearing.
