Ambulance Siren — Potential Risk?

Hi all,

I was recently exposed to a somewhat loud ambulance siren, I'd say about 50 feet away from where I was standing. The sound originated from our street while I was still inside of my home, though our windows were open. I was only exposed for a split second before covering my ears, but I'm still having a bit of anxiety over the event. I didn't experience any discomfort or pain, nor have I noticed any change in my hearing, but I'm still worried that something may happen later on, like a delayed reaction of some sort.

What is the likeliness that some form of damage may have occurred as a result of this? I'm not terribly knowledgeable on what is or isn't harmful to one's hearing, weather they have Tinnitus or not.

I'm probably being over-dramatic and I apologize if this thread is a waste of forum space... I've been going through a really rough time with my T recently, so things like this just really get to me more than they used to. I think I've begun to develop a rather severe case of Phonophobia...

Also, I sincerely apologize if I'm posting this in the wrong board. Please let me know if this is the case. I've been reading this forum for while now, but haven't really posted too often. I can tell there are some really cool folks here though, and I'd like to thank everyone for being so helpful and awesome to each other. It helps to know that you're not alone.

Any thoughts or feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this.
Have a great day!

 

Oceansound

I was standing outside next to my car once and a truck parked 3 spots away must have been a volunteer fireman and got a call, because just as I got to my car the siren went off as the guy was getting into his truck and it was loud. But I was fine, it caused a spike and it took a few days for my tinnitus returned back to my baseline but it did.

You were Inside, I bet that most of the sound was deflected with the walls and window frame of your home plus the ambulance was most likely moving 50 MPH. You had very little if any direct sound exposure. I would not worry about it, try and forget about it. Lots of people on here have been walking or riding bikes when an ambulance drove right past them a lot closer then 50 feet away.


Take care

Louie

 

There is zero likelihood that any form of auditory damage could have happened from the events you describe.

Dr. Stephen Nagler

 

Ok, similar event, I was working at the bank and the burglary alarm went off (due to an employee mistake) near my position. The bank was quite small, the noise extremely loud, and it went on for a minute or so. I didn't do anything about it, closed my ears at the beginning but then reopened them because I was working. After the noise stopped I experienced Tinnitus in my right ear. 3 months later, it is still there. Is it possible I had it before? Because this event seems to be the start of all my troubles, although I did have some undefinable ear-noise-fullness-sleeping trouble before, but not at this extend like now.

Also, an MRI scan of the ears shows vascular compression of the VIII nerve by the AICA that could cause the T in my right ear. I simply do not know where my T came from. Acoustic trauma, vascular compression or maybe both?