About Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Source: National Center for Environmental Health — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).

What to know

  * Noise is all around us — at school, at home, and everywhere in between.
  * Noise is a significant source of hearing loss.
  * Prevention and early detection of hearing loss due to noise are important.
  * Recognize signs of hearing loss and get your hearing tested if you are at risk.

Overview

Hearing loss can occur:

  * in [children](</hearing-loss-children/index.html>) and affect communication, language, and social skills.
  * in [occupational settings](</niosh/noise/index.html>) and result in permanent injury for workers.
  * due to loud noise near the ear or repeated exposure to loud noise.

Exposure to loud noise can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can be caused by participating in activities that produce harmful sound levels or by repeated exposures to loud sounds.

Some examples of noisy activities include:

  * Watching summer fireworks on the 4th of July
  * Mowing the lawn
  * Using power tools
  * Watching a sports game and cheering on your favorite team
  * Attending a concert

Recognize early signs of noise-induced hearing loss and take steps to protect your hearing.