Repeated Exposure to Loud Noises Can Create an Ear Tumour

A study to be released in the February 15 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that exposure to loud noises over many years can increase your risk of developing a non-cancerous tumour called acoustic neuroma, which can cause hearing loss. Of important note is that the study found that this risk holds true of any loud noise, not just work-related noise.

Even though I've written on the topic of loud noises causing hearing loss before, this study took me by surprise, as I had not previously read anything about repeated exposure to loud noises actually being able to cause tumour formation.

The study in question found that people who were repeatedly exposed to loud noises over a period of several years were 1.5 times more likely to develop an acoustic neuroma than people who weren't exposed to loud noises on a frequent basis.

A total of 710 people were evaluated for this study - 564 people without the tumour, and 146 with acoustic neuroma. Participants ranged from 20 to 69 years of age.

Data was collected for the following categories of loud noise exposure, defined as 80 decibels (the sound of busy city traffic) or louder:

• Machines
• Power tools and/or construction noise
• Motors, including airplanes
• Employment in the music industry
• Loud music
• Screaming children
• Sports events
• Restaurants and/or bars

Data was also collected on the use of hearing protection.

Results:

Of the types of noise listed above, the two types that were found to be the most likely causes of tumour formation were:

1. Exposure to music and employment in the music industry (2.25 times more likely to develop tumour)
2. Exposure to machines, power tools and/or construction (1.8 time more likely to develop tumour)

Exposure to screaming children, sports events and/or bars, and restaurants were 1.4 times more likely to cause an acoustic neuroma, while exposure to motors, including airplanes increased the risk of developing acoustic neuroma by 1.3 times.

Also worth noting: exposure to loud noises for as little as five years increased the chance of developing acoustic neuroma by 1.5 times.

Some background information on acoustic neuroma:

• It accounts for approximately 6 to 10 percent of tumours that develop in the head region
• Anywhere from 1 to 20 people out of every 100,000 develop acoustic neuroma on an annual basis
• Approximately 95 percent of all cases of acoustic neuroma are unilateral - in one ear only
• Bilateral acoustic neuroma is often inherited
• If an acoustic neuroma is detected early enough, it's quite possible for a surgeon to excise it without a high risk of complications

Were there any hopeful results from this study? Absolutely.

People who used devices to protect their ears against loud noises had no greater risk of developing an acoustic neuroma than those who were not regularly exposed to loud noises. People who wore these devices were only half as likely to develop an acoustic neuroma as people who did not wear any protective devices.

	To receive newly published articles and recipes like this one, stay in touch with us via

	Article Tools Email Print Comment Alter Text Size

	Please Rate This Select ratingCancel ratingNot usefulFairGoodQuite goodExtremely useful No votes yet