Permanent hearing loss caused by exposing your ears to loud noise. It may occur from a single sharp loud sound (e.g. gunshot) or from continued exposure to louder noise over time (days, months, years). Often your audiogram will initially show a “Noise Notch” around 4,000 Hz.

The amount of attenuation possible from a particular type of hearing protection device. Typically, ear protectors have ratings from abut 25 to 32 dB or so.

Hearing aids that amplify soft sounds by a different amount than loud sounds in order to keep the volume comfortable to the wearer. Digital hearing aids are almost always programmed to be non-linear.

Hearing ranging between -10 decibels (dB) and 15 dB.

A person who writes notes for a hard of hearing or deaf person in various settings such as the classroom, meetings, or at the office.

[nocks-ah-KOO-sis] Noise-induced ear pain. Caused by activation of Type II afferent auditory nerve fibers in the inner ear transmitting from the outer hair cells to the brain via this non-canonical pathway . These Type II neurons transmit pain signals. Also referred to as auditory nociception. More generally, ear pain is known as pain hyperacusis.