Loud Machines & Ear Problems
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Defining Noise
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Noise is an unwanted level of sound that can interfere with hearing. Exposure to elevated levels of noise can result in temporary or permanent hearing loss. Loud machinery is capable of generating these elevated levels.
Noise Limits
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The limits of sound detection range from a lower threshold of 10 dBA and an upper pain threshold of 140 dBA. Exposure to levels above 90 dBA requires implementation of a hearing conservation program.
Ear Problems
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Exposure to loud machines can cause noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). Damage to the hairs in the inner ear (cochlea) that detect sound or the auditory nerve that carries signals to the brain can result in a loss of hearing ability.
Temporary Problems
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Blast or impulse noise from explosion or impact can cause temporary hearing loss and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Long-Term Damage
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Continuous exposure to loud machines, generating noise above 90 dBA, can cause permanent hearing loss. The exposed person may experience continuous ringing in the ears or a loss of the ability to hear high and low frequencies.
Hearing Assessment
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A professional assessment can determine levels of hearing loss Hearing tests, performed by a hearing specialist (audiologist), can measure the amount and type of damage that exposure to loud machinery has caused.
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