The volume level of human speech is about 40 decibels. The refrigerator and other household appliances operate at approximately the same volume, and they do not harm our hearing. However, loud music, and especially a shot from a weapon, has a volume of 140 decibels or higher. They can cause ringing in the ears, so people are advised not to listen to music at high volumes and should wear special headphones at the shooting range. Almost every person has experienced ringing in the ears due to loud noise. But have you ever wondered why your ears ring? What is happening in our body at this time?
For many years, scientists could not understand what causes tinnitus, but now they have an explanation. Source: sodasovet.ru
Contents
- 1 What is tinnitus
- 2 How do human ears work< /li>
- 3 How noise affects hearing
- 4 Which doctor treats ears
- 5 Treatment of complete deafness
What is tinnitus< /h2>
Ringing or noise in the ears is calledtinnitus. For some people it never stops, but for others it occurs with sudden and loud noises, and then gradually disappears. Persistent tinnitus is more common in adults over the age of 55. Often you can get used to this noise, but sometimes tinnitus interferes with your life.
Tinnitus can be compared to a mosquito squeaking right next to your ear. Source: aif.ru
How human ears work
Tinnitus, whatever its cause, occurs due to damage to the hair cells of the inner ear. They are found in a part of the inner ear called the cochlea and have microscopic hairs called stereocilia on their surface.
This is what hair cells look like in the human body. Source: nature.com
Hair cells are needed to convert sound into electrical signals. When sound waves enter the ear and reach the cochlea, they cause the fluid to vibrate, which in turn vibrates the microscopic hairs. As a result, nerve impulses are created in the ear, which are transmitted to the brain. It processes the information it receives and lets us know what we are hearing. All this happens so quickly that we cannot even comprehend such speed.
Read also:Scientists have discovered why Beethoven lost his hearing
How noise affects by ear
When we listen to loud music for a long time or hear a sharp clap, strong sound waves damage hair cells. As a result of damage, hair cells begin to transmit chaotic signals to the brain. The brain converts them into ringing, humming, hissing and other interference – tinnitus always manifests itself in different ways.
Any loud sound damages the hair cells in the human ear. Source: yaplakal.com
Usually, after sharp and loud sounds, the ringing in the ears disappears, but this may take from a few minutes to a couple of hours. Tinnitus goes away because the hair follicles are not damaged forever and stop sending chaotic signals to the brain. Also, the disappearance of tinnitus is facilitated by the fact that the brain gets used to the change in signals and stops perceiving them as noise.
Which doctor treats ears
Sometimes tinnitus occurs and does not disappear for several days. Also, tinnitus can be accompanied by dizziness, ear pain and hearing loss. This is a bad sign that requires a visit to the doctor.
Usually, an appointment with an otolaryngologist is quick and painless. Source: izh.kp.ru
Usually, if you have problems with hearing, you go to an otolaryngologist (ENT). Also, if you have tinnitus, you may be referred to a neurologist, because tinnitus is related to the nervous system. Typically, the examination is limited to questions about symptoms, a physical examination of the ear, and an assessment of hearing level. In some cases, doctors refer patients for an MRI for a more detailed study.
Everyone should know this:5 signs that a person’s hearing is deteriorating
Treatment of total deafness
If the hair cells in the ear are severely damaged, a person can completely lose their hearing. Previously, it was impossible to restore people's hearing, but today high technology makes it possible. At the beginning of 2024, we told an amazing story about how doctors managed to restore hearing to an 11-year-old boy, Aissam Dam. To do this, doctors used technology that had been in development for more than 20 years.
Modern technologies make it possible to completely cure deafness. Source: technodzen.com
The reason for his deafness was that his hair cells could not produce a protein needed to convert sound waves into signals for the brain. The problem was solved by introducing a harmless virus into the patient's ear, which delivered the genes needed to produce the missing substance to the ear cells.
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In the modern world, people need to pay special attention to their hearing. According to forecasts, in the future, 1.3 billion people may lose their hearing due to loud music in headphones. To maintain the health of your ears, you need to use headphones less often and listen to music as quietly as possible. Smartphones usually warn you about dangerous volume levels, and it's best not to ignore these notifications.