What term is used to describe temporary changes in hearing after exposure to loud noise?

The term used to describe temporary changes in hearing after exposure to loud noise is "temporary threshold shift" (TTS). This phenomenon occurs when an individual's hearing sensitivity is temporarily reduced due to exposure to high sound levels, often resulting in a lowered hearing threshold, which may revert back to normal after a period of time away from the noise source. TTS is a crucial concept in understanding how temporary exposure to intense sounds can impact hearing, and it highlights the importance of protecting one's hearing in noisy environments to prevent permanent damage.

In contrast, auditory fatigue refers to a feeling of reduced hearing ability that can occur after prolonged exposure to noise but does not specifically denote the measurable shift in threshold sensitivity that TTS describes. Acute auditory loss usually implies a sudden and significant loss of hearing, often requiring immediate medical attention, rather than the temporary effects associated with TTS. Noise intolerance relates to difficulty tolerating loud sounds, but it does not specifically address the phenomenon of temporary changes in hearing sensitivity following noise exposure.