India, Nov. 15 -- Loud noises are a known hazard for the ears, and while the loud bursts of firecrackers during Diwali may be over for the year, there are many festivities lined up in winter that can expose us to high-intensity noise, including those from crackers, which can cause lasting damage.

"Unlike continuous background noise, firecracker explosions produce sudden, impulsive sounds that can expose the ears to extremely high sound pressure levels," shared Dr Ravi Bhatia, director of ENT and cochlear implants at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad, with Ht Lifestyle.

"Even brief exposure at close range may cause acoustic trauma, with symptoms that can sometimes persist long after the celebrations are over," he added.

The physician explai...