Can early noise exposure cause delayed NIHL later in life?

Question

Hi doctor,

I want you to review a portion of a medical report and put it in layman's terms. I am specifically hoping that this report confirms my suspicion that the effects of noise exposure at younger ages can lead to the delayed onset of noise-induced hearing loss later in life.

Kindly guide.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Yes, I can. Please attach the report here.

Answer 2

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have read the attached report (attachment removed to protect patient identity). Noise-induced hearing loss can be sudden or gradual. High-performance jets can be a cause. A single exposure can cause damage that can cause nerve damage and, hence, hearing loss. This can be avoided by wearing earplugs. On the other hand, a gradual exposure to loud sound can also cause nerve damage gradually, which becomes noticeable only once it is too much. Another cause of hearing loss in the elderly is age-related hearing loss or presbycusis. It is possible for a person to have some noise-induced hearing loss, which is aggravated with aging. The worsening of hearing loss, in your case, is definitely an age-related hearing loss. It is not recoverable, but you can use hearing aids. Secondly, Vitamin B12 supplements can slow down its progression. Please send me your audiometry report, so that I can suggest something better in this regard.

Any further questions are always welcome.

Thanks and regards.

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

There are two types of NIHL. It can be temporary or permanent. Hearing loss is of many grades, from mild to profound. A person gets tested for their hearing only when they face difficulty in hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss can be gradual enough that it is not noticeable at first, and becomes noticeable only when the hearing loss is of a high degree. This is all a matter of some functional hair cells and also the frequencies being affected. In the noise-induced hearing loss, the loss is maximum around 4000 Hz, but a person can hear lower and higher frequencies clearly, so they may not notice it. As the person gets older, there is degeneration of hair cells, causing age-induced hearing loss. So, it is possible that he might notice any loss once this age effect sets in.

I hope my explanation proves helpful to you. You are always welcome to ask any further queries.

Thanks and regards.