Health Effects

Exposure to high levels of noise can cause permanent hearing loss. Neither surgery nor a hearing aid can correct this type of hearing loss. Short term exposure to loud noise can cause a temporary change in hearing (your ears may feel plugged) or a ringing in your ears (tinnitus). These short-term problems may go away within a few minutes or hours after leaving the noise. However, repeated exposure can lead to permanent tinnitus and/or hearing loss.

Loud noise can create physical and psychological stress, reduce productivity, interfere with communication and concentration, and contribute to workplace accidents and injuries by making it difficult to hear warning signals. The effects of noise induced hearing loss can be profound, permanently limiting your ability to hear high frequency sounds, understand speech, and seriously impairing your ability to communicate.

The following references provide additional information in recognizing the health effects of excessive noise.

• Workplace Noise: More than just "All Ears". NIOSH Science Blog, (June 28, 2018). This blog discusses some of the non-auditory effects from occupational noise, including potential cardiovascular effects.
• Noise. European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). Noise topic page from EU-OSHA, including guidance materials, publications, standards, reports, and other resources, such as the following:
  • Factsheet 57 - The impact of noise at work
  • Factsheet 67 - Noise in figures
• Better Hearing. Hearing Industries Association (HIA). Educational resources on noise and hearing loss.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Promotes the interests of and provides the highest quality services for professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and hearing science, and advocates for people with communication disabilities.
  • Hearing Loss. Information on hearing loss and other problems related to hearing.