Why do people find some sounds unbearably loud while others don't?

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June 18, 2025

When people have inner ear hearing loss, they can find loud sounds louder than they actually are. This is called loudness recruitment. People with loudness recruitment have a reduced range of sound; soft sounds may be too soft to hear but loud sounds can be very loud and can even be painful. Loudness recruitment is treatable. Our ReSound Nexia™ 9 hearing aids (the very best) can compress sounds in a specific range that bothers you, improving your hearing health, and giving you back those important sounds for everyday life.

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Why do people find some sounds unbearably loud while others don't?

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Published:
April 17, 2023
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