Now Hear This: Loud Sound May Pose More Harm Than We Thought

Now Hear This: Loud Sound May Pose More Harm Than We Thought
In this Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2017 photo, Matt Garlock, of Mansfield, Mass., poses for a photo in a bar in Somerville, Mass. The 29-year old has trouble making out what his friends say in loud bars, but when he got a hearing test, the result was normal. Scientists have been finding evidence that loud noise, from rock concerts, leaf blowers, power tools and the like, damages our hearing in a previously unsuspected way. It may not be immediately noticeable, and it does not show up in standard hearing tests. AP Photo/Steven Senne
The Associated Press
Updated:

Matt Garlock has trouble making out what his friends say in loud bars, but when he got a hearing test, the result was normal. Recent research may have found an explanation for problems like his, something called “hidden hearing loss.”

Scientists have been finding evidence that loud noise - from rock concerts, leaf blowers, power tools and the like - damages our hearing in a previously unsuspected way. It may not be immediately noticeable, and it does not show up in standard hearing tests.

Noise is more dangerous than we thought.