Hearing Loss Research Paper

Introduction

The use of headphones and earphones has become more prevalent in contemporary society’s young adults and are continuously utilised in combination with MP3s to serve as a form of entertainment.1 With the current technological advances, music devices have become more powerful, efficient and clearer, leading to increased time using them. Included in the variety of sound systems is an array of headphones and earphones in different shapes and sizes, each with unique amplification systems.2However, the prolonged use of these technologies may have a large impact on the ear health of an individual, possibly resulting in Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL).3 A leading cause of hearing impairments is excessive noise exposure in the workplace,

Hearing Loss and Symptoms

According to Claridge, an expert in hearing aid development, hearing is a complex sense involving both the ear's ability to detect sounds and the brain's ability to interpret those sounds.13 Therefore, understanding hearing loss can be difficult. However, The National Institute of Health believes that it can be placed into two categories, sensorineural and conductive.

A sensorineural hearing loss is when damage affects the nerves or hair-cells of the inner ear. The nerve and hair-cell damage not only reduces the sounds that can be heard, but the ability to understand these sounds.14 This is supported by Smith an Otolaryngologist who states that, "The first indication of a mild loss (of hearing) is difficulty in understanding speech." 15 As the inner ear contains a variety of hair cells, which are specific to set frequencies, a person suffering from sensorineural hearing loss may hear certain frequencies perfectly and others not at all.16 The American Ear Science Institute confirms that this type of hearing loss is

This form affects the structures that conduct the sound waves to the inner ear.18 The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association illustrates that the cause of a blockage may be due to earwax build-up, fluid, or a punctured eardrum.19 However, The Australian Ear Science Institute has found that unlike sensorineural hearing loss, conductive hearing loss is treatable. Therefore, conductive hearing loss can easily be treated to restore hearing and so, does not greatly affect the ear health of young