What is a temporary loss of hearing after exposure to loud noise called?

The term for a temporary loss of hearing after exposure to loud noise is called a temporary threshold shift. This condition occurs when loud sounds temporarily reduce the sensitivity of hearing in the affected ear, often returning to normal once the exposure to the loud noise ceases and the ear has time to recover.

Understanding this concept is crucial, especially in the context of aerospace physiology, where pilots and crew may experience significant variations in noise levels. Recognizing the impacts of such noise can help in implementing protective measures and managing hearing health more effectively.

Other related terms are distinct from temporary threshold shift. Permanent threshold shift refers to irreversible hearing loss that occurs due to long-term exposure to loud noise. Acoustic trauma is a specific kind of permanent loss that results from extremely loud bursts of sound, like an explosion. Conductive loss pertains to issues with conducting sound waves through the ear, which is not directly linked to temporary changes caused by noise exposure. Thus, the distinction of temporary threshold shift specifically focuses on the reversible nature of the hearing loss induced by loud sound exposure.