What condition can result from prolonged exposure to loud noise?

Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to hearing impairment, which refers to a partial or total inability to hear. The damage occurs due to the harmful effects of sound waves on the delicate structures of the inner ear, namely the hair cells in the cochlea. When these hair cells are exposed to excessively loud sounds over time, they can become damaged or die, resulting in permanent hearing loss. It is essential to recognize that hearing impairment can develop gradually and often goes unrecognized until significant damage has occurred.

The other options, while they may have some association with loud noise or related stress, do not directly stem from the auditory damage caused by such exposure. For instance, tinnitus is characterized by ringing or buzzing in the ears and can be caused by factors including loud noise, but it is a separate condition from hearing impairment itself. Social anxiety and hypertension are not typically direct consequences of noise exposure, but rather relate to psychological and cardiovascular factors, respectively. Therefore, hearing impairment stands out as the specific consequence of prolonged exposure to loud noise.