By Ed Lippie

Most of us are fortunate to be born with five senses that contribute to a full and enjoyable life experience. But it’s easy to take those senses for granted, especially when we’re younger. It’s often not until we’re older and have experienced the accumulated impact of sensory loss that we wish we had modified our habits when they would have made the biggest difference.

Most of us think of hearing loss as a condition that only affects older people, but the reality is there are multiple reasons for hearing loss at different stages of life, including noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) and age induced hearing loss (AIHL), that are mechanistically similar as they both are characterized by cellular damage in the architecture of the inner ear. Yet, NIHL is largely preventable and therefore should be the focus of our hearing preservation strategy.

What is NIHL?

NIHL results from exposure to a single loud noise (like an explosion) but is most commonly the result of accumulated damage from chronic exposure to loud noise, such as machines, loud music, hair dryers, etc. The damage is often irreversible.

Why Does it Matter?

  • Hearing loss is highly correlated with cognitive decline
  • Hearing loss is highly correlated with social isolation
  • Hearing loss contributes to a degradation in the quality of life

What to Do?

  • Get an annual hearing exam (you can start kids off as early as pre-school). Identifying a hearing impairment is critical to managing hearing loss
  • Take advantage of the technology in your pocket – this article summarizes the sound-detection features of common iOS and Android devices
  • When using headphones or earbuds, opt for noise-cancelling options so you can hear effectively at an acceptable volume
  • Do your best to limit exposure to loud sounds. Earplugs can be helpful. Here is a review of earplugs you can use in loud environments, like concerts

Every Day Takeaways

Control what you can control. By the time we’ve reached our sixth decade, we will most likely have some level of hearing impairment, and aside from any genetic factors or disabilities, that damage will be the sum total of our NIHL + AIHL. With only one of those variables being preventable, we know where to focus our efforts.