When can noise damage our hearing?
If your hearing is regularly exposed to sounds above 85 dB for more than 40 hours a week, i.e. by frequently listening to loud music or working on a construction site without hearing protection, chronic noise-induced hearing loss can occur. Above 120 dB, hearing damage is possible even through short exposure.
What is the reason for this?
Hearing loss is often caused by damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear. Acoustic stimuli are then no longer properly transmitted to the brain. Aging, noise and illness can be the cause. In addition, the transmission of sound from the outer and middle ear to the inner ear can be impaired, if, for instance, the eardrum is damaged.
What can I do about it?
Give your ears a break now and then. Continuous everyday noise, ambient sound and music don’t allow the fine sensory cells in the inner ear to recover. Silence and quiet moments allow for the necessary balance.