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Our auditory nerve then carries these signals to the brain through a complex series of steps. Hearing depends on a series of events that change sound waves in the air into electrical signals. To understand how loud noises can damage our hearing, we have to understand how we hear. A good rule of thumb is to avoid noises that are too loud, too close, or last too long. Your distance from the source of the sound and the length of time you are exposed to the sound are also important factors in protecting your hearing.
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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.
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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.
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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).Institutional Research Training Programs.Types of Research Training Funding Opportunities.About NIDCD's Research Training Program.Scientific Workshop and Meeting Reports.Building a Diverse Scientific Workforce.
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