As you age, some hearing loss is normal. Long-term exposure to loud noises may speed up hearing loss. You may lose not only the ability to hear how loud a sound is, but also the ability to hear certain types of sounds. For example, you might not be able to hear some of the high-pitched sounds of a child's voice or a fire alarm.
With aging, tiny hair cells in the inner ear undergo changes. Nerve cells, also part of the inner ear, can also be affected. This is age-related hearing loss called presbycusis. Most people don't notice normal hearing loss until their middle years. Others might not notice it until late in their lives. It's most often a slow and painless process.
Exposure to loud noise may cause brief hearing loss and ringing in your ears called tinnitus. If your exposure was short, you may recover. But long-term exposure day after day can affect your hearing for life.
Did you know that loud noises can affect your whole body? Loud noises can:
Raise blood pressure
Disrupt sleep patterns
Cause muscle strain
Cause emotional stress
Harm digestion
For more information call (269) 429-7100 or (800) 717-3811