Document Type : Review Article
Authors
1
Otorhinolaryngologist, Associate Professor, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
PhD candidate of Audiology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Audiology department, Tehran, Iran
3
Lecturer, Audiology Department, Faculty of Rehabilitation, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Abstract
Background and aims: Noise (unwanted sounds louder than 100 dB) affects hearing system in different ways. Although cochlea and its hair cells are the most affected sites, central auditory system can also be impaired by short-term exposure of noise. The aim of the present study was conducting a comprehensive evaluation of short-term exposure effects of noise on peripheral and central hearing system.
Materials and methods: To review the latest literature on short-term exposure noise impairment since 1980, articles were selected from Google scholar, PubMed, Sciencedirect, and Scopus databases using the following keywords: noise, temporary, permanent threshold shift, excitotoxicity, and central auditory system.
Results: Short term after noise exposure, hearing thresholds return to normal values but histologic findings showed that hair cells, ribbon synapses, low spontaneous rate fibers, and subcortical and cortical areas may be affected seriously.
Conclusion: Different auditory centers can be affected by short-term noise exposure; therefore, after noise exposure, paying attention to peripheral thresholds is not sufficient. One of the probable reasons of reduced auditory and temporal acuity in elderly people is frequent and short-term noise exposure that can finally produce hearing processing and speech perception problems.
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