Acoustic Trauma

When noises reach a certain intensity, they can potentially cause tinnitus or temporary or permanent hearing loss, even if they only last a very short time. This is what we call acoustic trauma.

Acoustic trauma is a type of damage to the earcaused by sudden exposure to excessive noise.The ear is a fragile organ, and certain structures canbe damaged or even destroyed by an overly powerful sound wave. And unfortunately, once destroyed, those hearing cells cannot regenerate.

Acoustic trauma can be caused by a variety of high-intensity sounds.

Here are some examples:

Impact tools (like jackhammers) Firearms High-volume music speakers Explosions Airbags deploying in a car accident

The consequences of acoustic trauma can be temporary or permanent

Examples include:

In some cases, acoustic trauma can be treated. owever, the auditory system may not necessarily recover completely.

While some acoustic traumas are followed by a spontaneous recovery that does not require medical intervention, others create permanent damage and the hearing loss cannot be corrected naturally.

In all cases, it’s essential to seek immediate medical attention following acoustic trauma. The sooner the problem is addressed, the better the chances of recovery.

It is also strongly recommended that you take a break from noise after the injury, by avoiding high-intensity noise sources and wearing hearing protectors such as earmuffs or earmolds.

Some impact noises occur suddenly, without warning. So, moving away in time to avoid the impact is unlikely. However, when noises can be anticipated, it’s always best to use the necessary means to prevent them from harming our ears.

Once again, we recommend wearing protective earmuffs or earmolds. We also recommend changing or rethinking certain work methods and actions to reduce the chances of acoustic trauma (e.g., using an electric tool instead of a pneumatic one, putting down a part instead of dropping it, avoiding standing near a loudspeaker at a concert). For firearms enthusiasts, choosing a quieter firearm and wearing hearing protectors will obviously make a great difference.

If you have any questions about acoustic trauma, don’t hesitate to talk to a hearing health professional.