Final answer:
Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) is a temporary decrease in hearing sensitivity that occurs after exposure to loud sounds. It is not a gradual hearing loss, but a reversible condition. TTS is caused by overstimulation of the hair cells in the inner ear.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS) is used to describe a temporary hearing loss that occurs after exposure to loud sounds. It is not a gradual hearing loss, but a temporary decrease in hearing sensitivity that recovers over time. TTS is caused by the overstimulation of the hair cells in the inner ear by loud sounds, which can lead to temporary damage.
For example, if you attend a loud concert or use headphones at high volumes for a long period of time, you may experience TTS. You may notice that your hearing is temporarily reduced or muffled, but it usually recovers within a few hours or days.
To prevent TTS, it is important to protect your ears from loud sounds by using earplugs or reducing the volume when listening to music or being in noisy environments.