This is a common complaint when someone is exposed to any intense noise.  Sometimes people do not realize that noise is a form of environmental pollution until it is too late.  Exposure to intense sound can cause a temporary threshold shift (TTS).  For a short time following the exposure, sound will seem muffled and your ears may feel plugged.  You may also notice a ringing sound in your ears.  Although the hair cells in the inner will usually recover from this temporary condition, it should be taken as a warning to avoid the excessive noise in the future.

When your ears start ringing when exposed to intense noise, your ears are trying to tell you something.  Use hearing protection! Custom ear plugs are available from your audiologist.

If people continue to expose themselves to the intense noise, the TTS may turn into a permanent threshold shift (PTS).  With a PTS, the hearing does not recover and the ears may continue to ring all the time.   People who work in noisy factories every day or musicians who play their instruments many hours could be at risk for a PTS.  Loud music can be damaging.  You may think its only rock and roll, but you better be careful.  However, any loud music can cause hearing loss!  The music genre (rock and roll, classical, or country music) is irrelevant.  Risk to hearing is as great for orchestral musicians as for rock and rollers!  There are special ear plugs specifically for musician's.  The special plugs reduce the intensity of the music to a safe level, while maintaining good sound quality so the musician can monitor his/her performance.

     There are many noises around us all the time.  We are exposed to noise when we mow our lawns.  If you think you may be at risk for a noise induced hearing loss, please consult an audiologist for a hearing assessment to determine if you need to wear hearing protection.  Custom fit ear plugs may save your hearing!

Some occupations require hearing protection!

Please use hearing protection!