Do the duration and closeness of exposure to loud noise relate to hearing damage?
There is a direct correlation between the duration of exposure to a loud noise and the damage to hearing. This means that the longer the exposure, the greater the damage. Furthermore, the closer one is to the source of the intense noise, the more damaging it is. An example of this is iPod hearing loss. There is an alarming increase in hearing loss in children and young adults due to listening to loud music through earplugs so close to the eardrum. Another example is discharging firearms. The loud blast of a gun so close to the ear can cause problems for anyone not wearing ear protection. What factors increase a person’s susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss?
