What type of relationship exists between hearing loss and the level and duration of noise exposure?
In general, the magnitude of noise-induced hearing loss depends upon the noise levels to which the ear has been habitually exposed, the length of time for which it has been exposed to those levels, and the susceptibility of the individual. Short-term (time in minutes) to high intensity noise, or long-term exposure to noise of lesser intensity, may cause temporary or permanent hearing loss. With an adequate time before the next noise exposure, the ear will generally recover to a previous pre-exposure threshold. Repeated noise exposures without adequate time for recovery between exposures can lead to a Noise-Induced Permanent Threshold Shift (NIPTS). (See References 18 and 20 for a general discussion.) What factors can increase a person’s susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss? A significant factor that is known to increase the likelihood of noise-induced hearing loss is continued exposure to hazardous noise. Defects or diseases of the ear are hypothesized to cause a predisposition
