Question: I know someone who has been using a noise masking device to treat her tinnitus. She's recently discovered significant hearing loss in the ear concerned; the timing of this relative to the treatment isn't clear.

But I was wondering: could the prolonged low-level noise from the masking device eventually cause hearing loss? Is anything known about this subject at all?

TIA.

Answer: There have been zillions of studies of how loudness and duration of exposure relate to hearing loss. They indicate that noise of various kinds studied do not affect hearing loss even if they are continuous as long as the dB level is below about 80.

I don't know if it is possible to turn a masker that high. If it is, then, yes, a masker could cause hearing loss.

You refer to "low-level noise from the masking device." If the noise is "low-level," then there should be no risk. I am one of the unfortunate ones who requires masking to be set so loud that it could damage my hearing. I can hear my tinnitus over the sound of a diesel farm tractor that I'd guess easily exceeds 90 dB.

You might want want to ask your question in the tinnitus group I cite below. There are some audiologists there who could give you a better answer regarding the specific masker and its setting. -- Jim Chinnis / Warrenton, Virginia, USA Join the American Tinnitus Assn: 800-634-8978 or http://www.ata.org Want to discuss Meniere's? See http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MenieresDG Want to discuss tinnitus? See http://www.tinn.com/support.htm