Asymmetrical hearing loss may commonly be seen in individuals with extensive exposure to which activity?

Asymmetrical hearing loss is often associated with conditions that result from specific types of trauma or exposure rather than general auditory overstimulation. In the case of shooting, the sound produced by gunfire can reach extremely high decibel levels, sometimes exceeding 140 dB, which is well above the threshold for potential hearing damage. This exposure typically occurs suddenly and can affect one ear more than the other, especially if the shooter is not using adequate protection or if they are frequently firing from a particular side.

In contrast, listening to loud music generally leads to symmetrical hearing loss since the exposure is often consistent and balanced across both ears. Swimming, while it may pose risks related to ear infections or barotrauma, does not typically result in hearing loss patterns characterized as asymmetrical. Flying can be associated with pressure-related ear issues but again does not usually produce the kind of auditory damage that would lead to asymmetrical hearing loss unless there were specific individual factors at play.