Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

Brittany Mott

"Noise exposure doesn’t just happen in the workplace. It is becoming more common for people to experience noise induced hearing loss from recreational activities such as shooting, boating, snowmobiling, sporting events, concerts, bars, and movie theatres"

Noise-Induced hearing loss is a permanent and irreversible hearing loss caused by exposure to loud noise. This type of hearing loss can be the effect of a one-time exposure to an extremely loud blast or impulse noise (such as a gun shot, explosives, tire blowing etc.), or from moderately loud sounds over an extended period. Though the risks of hearing loss from noise exposure is a complex issue, the most important thing to know is noise induced hearing loss is preventable with the right awareness and protective measures.


Many people work in exceptionally noisy environments and have a hearing loss as a result. If this is your experience, you may be entitled to hearing aid benefits through the Workman’s Safety and Insurance Board of Ontario. Employers must follow regulations set out by the Occupational Health and Safety Act to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss at the workplace. Oftentimes, these measures were put into place too late, or lack of adherence leads to workers ultimately experiencing noise-induced hearing loss. If you think this may be the case for you, do not hesitate to book an appointment at Niagara Hearing & Health and our skilled clinicians can help determine if you are a candidate for a noise induced hearing loss claim. Alternatively, if you work in a noisy environment and you are interested in prevention, contact our clinic to discuss custom noise protection. You may even be surprised to learn that many employers will cover the cost of custom noise plugs.


Noise exposure doesn’t just happen in the workplace. It is becoming more common for people to experience noise induced hearing loss from recreational activities such as shooting, boating, snowmobiling, sporting events, concerts, bars, and movie theatres. Even fitness centres are known to blast music as loud as 120 decibels! As a reference, the Occupational Health and Safety Act defines hazardous exposure to noise as 90 dB for 8 hours of exposure; as the noise levels increase by just 5 dB, the recommended exposure time is cut in HALF. So, if noise levels are 95 dB, exposure should not be longer than 4 hours, and if noise levels are 100 dB, exposure should not be longer than 2 hours (I think you get the picture). One can deduce the amount of time you should be listening to sounds at 120 dB, which some personal listening devices can produce. It is common for children nowadays to use headphones with their electronic devices, so it is very important for parents and caregivers to be aware of the noise levels they are being exposed to. If you are worried about the levels of noise you or your children are being exposed to, now is the time to book a hearing assessment!

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Learn More About Tinnitus

By Brittany Mott • 05 Jul, 2022
Tinnitus is a constant or intermittent ringing in one or both of your ears. Almost everyone has experienced tinnitus at some point in their lives; however, for some, it is a persistent and often even debilitating issue. What people don’t often know is what causes tinnitus and what they can do to relieve their symptoms. Causes of tinnitus: Hearing Loss: Often, tinnitus is associated with a sensorineural hearing loss. In fact, 90% of people who present with a sensorineural hearing loss also report tinnitus. This type of hearing loss can be hereditary, age-related, trauma-induced or noise-induced. Hearing loss is the most common cause of tinnitus. Infection: During active infection, or even following ear infections, fluid can persist in the middle ear causing a change in pressure in the middle ear space, which can result in tinnitus. Blockage: Build up of ear wax or blockage by a foreign body entering the ear canal can cause tinnitus. Injury or trauma to the head or neck: Typically, this type of damage will cause tinnitus in just one ear. Medications: Certain medications have been known to induce tinnitus. Such medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, chemotherapy agents, antidepressants and diuretics. People often get the discouraging message that nothing can be done to relieve symptoms of tinnitus and they must get used to it. Though there is no ‘cure’ for tinnitus, there are a lot of great tools and treatments to reduce the perceived intensity of tinnitus. An important first step is booking a hearing test with a qualified hearing care professional who specializes in identification and treatment of tinnitus. At Niagara Hearing & Health, we are members of the American Tinnitus Association and therefore specialize in the identification and management of tinnitus. Brittany or Seneka will perform a comprehensive hearing evaluation including tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing in addition to the pure-tone air and bone conduction testing. Our state-of-the-art equipment ensures you are in great hands. Once we have the information we need, we will discuss the best tinnitus management program for you to minimize the impact tinnitus has on your life. Sometimes the answer is wax removal, sometimes it is hearing aids; and other times it may be a more involved treatment plan. No two tinnitus cases are alike and therefore the best course of treatment is going to differ from patient to patient. Successful tinnitus management programs require overlapping layers of treatment options. At Niagara Hearing & Health we are here to take the time and help you manage your tinnitus with individualized treatment plans. - Brittany Mott Au.D., Reg. CASLPO
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