Study Turns Down Volume

Loud music does not automatically damage your hearing, claims a new study by Professor Gary Housley of the University of NSW.

He says that when one finds it difficult to hear temporarily after being exposed to loud sounds, it is not a permanent effect.

The 20-year study suggested that when sound levels rise, the cells in the cochlea release a hormone that causes just a temporary reduction in hearing sensitivity. But, Prof Housley added that constant exposure to loud music was, like sunlight, detrimental in the long run.

The study, conducted with colleagues in the United States and New Zealand, was published in the journal National Academy of Science’s Proceedings.