Noise injury is a condition in which damage or disruption of the functioning of the body occurs under the influence of a high-intensity sound wave. This can be the result of an accident, explosion, gunshot, sudden sound, or even natural sound phenomena such as thunder in a thunderstorm or earthquake.
The main symptom of noise injury is pain, which can range from mild to severe and prolonged. In addition, headaches, nausea, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing and vision impairment, vomiting, loss of consciousness and other consequences may occur. Typically, many of these symptoms may appear gradually and develop over time.
The most common cause of noise injury is an explosion or accident, where the intensity of the sound wave can reach tens of thousands of decibels (dB), equivalent to the sound of a conventional gun or motorcycle. As a precaution, healthcare professionals recommend using noise-canceling headphones or ear protection to reduce the harmful effects of noise and reduce the risk of injury.
However, it is not only injury from explosions or gunshots that can cause noise injury. Musical and industrial events, aviation, loud acoustics from sporting events and amusement rides can all cause high intensity sound exposure and lead to noise injury.