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What Does a Hearing Loss Sound Like?
Keywords: Hearing loss Noise Sound level
Loud noise can permanently damage your hearing. It especially affects the sounds that help you understand speech. To hear what this sounds like, try these computer-generated samples. The sound samples are in the popular MP3 format.
Step 1 - Normal Hearing
Play a recording that demonstrates normal hearingFirst, click the "Normal Hearing" link above to hear a recording of a male voice reading several sentences (while this is playing, adjust your PC's volume so you can clearly understand the speaker).
Step 2 - Moderate Hearing Loss
Play a recording that demonstrates moderate hearing lossNow, click the "Moderate Hearing Loss" link above to hear the same recording, but altered to sound as it would for a person with a "moderate" noise-induced hearing loss.
Step 3 - Normal Hearing With Background Noise
Play a recording that demonstrates normal hearing with background noiseBackground noise makes speech harder to understand. Click the "Normal Hearing With Background Noise" link above to hear the first recording again, but with a recording of a coal continuous haulage machine added to the background.
Step 4 - Moderate Hearing Loss With Background Noise
Play a recording that demonstrates moderate hearing loss with background noiseFinally, click the "Moderate Hearing Loss With Background Noise" link above to hear the same recording again (with background noise), and with a simulated "moderate" hearing loss.
These hearing loss examples were created using the NIOSH Hearing Loss Simulator. The Windows-based simulator displays a "control panel" for playing sounds while adjusting the simulated effects of noise and aging. You can enter a simulated individual's age (in years) along with the years of exposure to noise (in A-weighted decibels). The simulator shows the effects visually on a frequency band display while the user listens to the audio playback.

See Also
Application of a Microphone Phased Array to Identify Noise Sources on a Roof Bolting Machine
Cross-Sectional Survey of Noise Exposure in the Mining Industry
Determination of Sound Exposures (DOSES): Software Manual and Implementation Guide
Limestone Mining: Is It Noisy or Not?
Noise and Hearing Protection: Development of Two Training Exercises for Drillers
Noise Control in Underground Metal Mining
Snapshot of Noise and Worker Exposures in Sand and Gravel Operations
Technology News 536 - NIOSH Develops New Software to Analyze and Reduce Noise Exposure
Water Well Safety Bits: Health And Safety Information For The Water Well Industry
Working in Noise with a Hearing Loss: Perceptions from Workers, Supervisors, and Hearing Conservation Program Managers
Page last reviewed: December 2, 2019
Page last updated: September 19, 2012
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Mining Program
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