How low must you go? Effects of low-level noise on cochlear neural response

Prolonged exposure to low-level noise has often been used scientifically as well as clinically to induce neuroplastic changes within the central auditory pathway in order to reduce central gain, suppress tinnitus and hyperacusis, and modulate different features of central auditory processing. A fundamental assumption underling these studies is that the noise exposure levels are so low that they have no effect on the neural output of the cochlea....