Our expert for hearing loss in Phoenix, AZ, emphasizes the importance of protecting your hearing from loud sound so you can avoid the difficulties that accompany noise-induced hearing damage. By opting for earplugs during a loud concert or in a noisy work environment, or by keeping the volume low when wearing headphones, you help to ensure a lifetime of better hearing. Why does noise cause such damage to our ears? Our audiologist explains below.

How Does Sound Travel in Your Ears?

When sound enters your ear, it must journey a distance before your brain receives the signal:

1. First, the sound travels through your ear canal until it reaches your eardrum.
2. The eardrum vibrates from the sound, and these vibrations carry further into the three tiny bones in your middle ear.
3. From there, the bones in your ear transfer the sound vibrations to the fluid in your inner ear, the cochlea.
4. These vibrations are then picked up by special cells deep in your ear that are called “hair cells.” These cells transfer the vibrations into an electrical signal, which is then sent to your brain.

When sound vibrations are too forceful, these hair cells can become damaged, and will eventually die. In this way, you can progressively lose your hearing as more and more hair cells get damaged over time.

Can Your Hearing Be Restored?

Once a hair cell becomes damaged, it is not able to regenerate, and your body won’t grow new ones. Therefore, you cannot restore your natural hearing once it is damaged. Fortunately, significant advancements have been made in audiology and you may be able to restore your hearing to a certain degree with the help of our experienced audiologist.

Today’s hearing aids are a far cry from the ones of the past. Many are small and can sit deeply in your ear so that no one will notice them. Additionally, today’s advanced wireless technology can even link your hearing aid to devices such as your cell phone or television!

Call Our Expert for Hearing Loss in Phoenix, AZ, for Your Hearing Consultation

If you or a loved one are suffering from noise-induced hearing loss, then call our hearing center at 602.265.9000 or click here to request your real-world hearing assessment and treatment consultation. Your  Hearing Consultation includes an in-depth consultation with one of our experts, an otoscopic exam, and a comprehensive hearing test. Contact us today – we can’t wait to help you enjoy the sounds of life again!

The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to audiology, feel free to contact Arizona Balance and Hearing Aids, with a convenient hearing center located in Phoenix, AZ, by clicking here or by calling 602.265.9000.