Can toys also harm hearing? The harm of noise cannot be ignored!

Review expert: Yuan Xiandao Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University

Deputy Chief Physician of Otolaryngology Department

As industrial technology becomes more and more advanced, the environmental noise around us is becoming more and more complex. If we are in a noisy environment for a long time, it will cause great harm to our health, especially for teenagers whose auditory system is still in the development stage.

Source: Weibo screenshot

Data surveys show that there are more than 30,000 new patients with acute severe hearing loss in my country every year. In recent years, the incidence of noise-induced hearing loss among children and adolescents has increased year by year. In addition to the household noise, loud speakers, and headphones used for a long time that everyone is accustomed to, even electronic toys in the hands of children may damage their hearing.

What is noise-induced hearing loss?

First of all, we need to clarify what noise is. From the perspective of physics, noise is any irregular signal; from the perspective of physiology, noise is any sound that interferes with our work, study, rest, and the sounds we want to hear. Noise can be divided into the following four categories according to the characteristics of the sound source:

• Industrial noise: In industrial production, the noise generated by production equipment and auxiliary equipment. Generally, the noise level in a factory workshop is about 75 to 105 decibels.

• Transportation noise: Transportation noise comes from the ground, water and air. These sound sources are highly mobile and affect a wide area.

• Construction noise: Noise will be generated during the construction process, such as transporting materials, excavating, mixing, etc., and these noises are generally above 90 decibels.

• Social life and entertainment noise: refers to the noise generated by entertainment venues, air conditioners, washing machines, televisions, toys, etc. This type of noise is generally below 80 decibels.

Deafness caused by long-term exposure to noise, which leads to damage to the cochlea, is called noise-induced hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is a type of neurological hearing loss, and its main clinical manifestation is a decrease in the high-frequency hearing curve of both ears or one ear.

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Noise must reach a certain intensity to cause pathological hearing damage to the auditory organs. When the noise is between 40 and 60 decibels, the energy contained in the noise doubles for every 3 decibel increase in noise. If we are in a noise environment of 85 to 90 decibels, which exceeds the hearing protection standard, for a long time, our hearing system will be in a state of constant tension and difficulty in relaxing. Long-term continuous fatigue will cause high-frequency (3000 to 6000 Hz) hearing loss.

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The three normal language frequency bands of the human body are 500Hz, 1000Hz, and 2000Hz. When our hearing is further damaged, the high-frequency hearing loss will extend to the language frequency band, manifesting as subjective hearing impairment, namely noise-induced deafness.

Our cochlea contains a large number of fine hair cells, which can convert sound waves into nerve signals and then transmit them to the brain. Long-term use of headphones or excessive noise in the headphones will cause damage to the fine hair cells and abnormal output of nerve signals, which will then cause symptoms of neurological tinnitus and may even lead to permanent deafness.

Cochlea (section through the modiolus)

Source: Sohu

Noise not only damages our hearing system, but also affects the nervous system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system, visual organs, digestive system, etc. Noise repeatedly stimulates our nervous system for a long time, causing imbalance between excitement and inhibition of the cerebral cortex and cerebrovascular dysfunction, thus producing neurasthenia syndrome, headache, dizziness, tinnitus, fatigue, poor sleep and other symptoms, and also causing reduced memory, thinking, learning and reading abilities.

Prevention and treatment of noise-induced hearing loss

Noise can cause great harm to our health. How can we effectively avoid the harm of noise?

There are three main ways to avoid noise. The first is to reduce noise at the source to prevent it from being emitted. However, in real life, it is impossible to completely eliminate noise. When we watch TV or wear headphones, we must be careful not to turn up the volume too loud and give our ears a rest in time.

Our nervous system or hearing organs can maintain tension for about 45 minutes, so when watching TV or wearing headphones, take a break for a few minutes every 45 minutes or so. The blades of electric fans and air conditioners at home should be cleaned frequently to prevent uneven accumulation of dust from causing unstable bearings, resulting in vibration and noise. Rubber pads can be used on the bottom of washing machines to reduce the noise caused by shaking.

The second method is to block the propagation of noise.

The third method is to block noise at the ear, such as wearing earmuffs, earplugs, etc.

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Hard, smooth floors can exacerbate noise

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If noise-induced hearing loss has already occurred, how should it be treated? First, you must seek medical attention in a timely manner. Treat according to the doctor's diagnosis and advice.

For early patients with noise-induced hearing loss, conservative treatment can be performed with some vasodilator and nerve-nourishing drugs. Because of hearing loss, patients with noise-induced hearing loss will feel inexplicably irritable, panicky, anxious, and have great mood swings. At this time, they should actively seek psychological counseling.

In addition, patients should also pay attention to rest, avoid staying up late, and eat a light diet. If the patient has undergone systematic treatment and still has no obvious effect, in order to ensure normal daily communication life, they can wear hearing aids under the guidance of a doctor to alleviate noise-induced hearing loss.

Wearing hearing aids

Source: unsplash

Finally, I hope everyone can stay away from noise as much as possible in daily life and maintain healthy living habits to protect our fragile ears and avoid hearing damage.