What are the immediate effects of exposure to loud noise?

Exposure to loud noise can result in a range of immediate effects that are often transitory in nature. The correct response identifies two common symptoms: ringing in the ears, known as tinnitus, and temporary loss of hearing, which can occur after brief exposure to high sound levels.

When we are exposed to sounds above 85 decibels, the tiny hair cells in the cochlea can become overstimulated. This overstimulation can lead to a sensation of ringing in the ears and a temporary decrease in hearing ability. These symptoms usually resolve after a period of time once the individual is removed from the noisy environment, but if exposure is frequent or prolonged, it can lead to more permanent effects, such as hearing loss.

Additionally, while the other choices refer to potential long-term consequences of excessive noise exposure—like permanent hearing loss or complete deafness—they do not address the immediate effects that one might experience right after being exposed to loud sounds. Reduced ability to concentrate might be a secondary effect of a noisy environment, but it is not a direct physiological response to loud noise exposure in the same way that tinnitus and temporary hearing loss are. Hence, the response accurately captures the immediate, direct consequences of loud noise exposure.