Can Car Engine Cause Damage?

Earlier this week I was next to a car that started (Toyota Camry 12), I wonder if its engine/muffler can damage my ears, I didn't wear ear protection while being outside.

 

No It won't cause any damage but anxiety and fear can cause harm to your emotional and mental well-being over such things. Try not to worry and don't use hearing protection either. This only reinforces negative thinking that could develop into phonophobia and misophonia. Relax, try to foget it and move on.....

 

But i am getting spikes so frequently now. I also have a different baseline of T, my tinnitus was initially mild now its moderate. I should have left it alone and stayed in my room for 5 months giving myself plenty of time to recover. After i did that caloric test things became worse. I regret it so much now and I was doing so well. I had a good audiogram and now I have mild hearing loss. I am sad.

 

Hearing protection should only be used where it's appropriate for normal non tinnitus suffering individuals, lawn mowing, power tools, gun shots, etc..
Over protecting and avoiding all noise is only going to make you more sensitive.
A normal automobile will not damage your hearing.

 

The spikes you are experiencing are probably a result of the caloric test that you had. Hopefully this will settle down in time. You could use "noise reducing earplugs" but I still don't advise using them too often. Worrying over this will not help. See your doctor and get something to help calm you down as you seem under a stress. This is understandable considering what you been through but give it time, for everything to return to how it used to be. That is all you can do....

 

Michael but how can i develop H on the healthy ear? How is that possible. I should have listened to you to leave the ears alone. I was doing amazingly well in December, could only hear Tinnitus when i was in a quiet room, now i can can hear it. I also have H on both ears, left ear muffled, etc

 

I don't want to keep saying I told you so. But I told you many times to LEAVE your ears alone. The ears and auditory system are very delicate. It is for this reason, that many ENT Drs prefer not to give treatment for the first 6 months, if a person just has normal tinnitus without additional problems such as: Hearing loss, dizziness, pain in the ears etc. Treating tinnitus too hear can make the condition worse. There is a saying: Dont trouble trouble.

Nothing is for certain when dealing with tinnitus in the early stages, and for this reason any treatment must be done carefully and not too soon. The hyperacusis that you now have in the good ear, I belive will calm down with time. As I said, worrying over this will make matters worse. See your GP and get something to help with your stress.

Michael

 

Michael, I would love if you can tell me what exactly can make Tinnitus worse. I dont go to clubs, cafes, cinema,resturants, pubs, bars, etc. The only places i go to are my work, store, library, and home. But it seems like noises are so sudden. I walked next to a busy street filled with cars (got a spike), fire alarm at library (spike), people clapping at office (spike), three helicopters were flying low above my house (got a spike), a door slamming loudly by my ear (spike), caloric test (massive spike and other issues), car starting right next to me/car engine/muffler (spike). It is no surprise that i went from having good hearing to mild hearing loss. I am so lost and I dont know what damages hearing further. I dont go to loud venues but I feel like i am still damaging my hearing, you said ears are delicate, what if are ours are damaged and now moderate sounds can damage us further. I feel like our ears are not strong like they were before and one minor thing can make T worse. Caloric Test was water being irrigated into the ear and hitting the eardrum and coming back out, ,it wasn't loud, but the vibrations could have caused further hair damage, audiologist says that can be possible. I was soo stupid and I should have listened to to you and Bill and all the people on here. I thought oh well what is going to happen if i go outside and walk next to a busy road with cars passing by, or walk next to a car engine (loud). I always assumed it has to be loud and continuous to damage, i got T beacause i continuously damaged my ears for 12 years, so i assumed that to make T worse i need to be at a club without earplugs and thus make T worse. But that dosent seem to be the case, going to the dentist, ambulance passing, etc.
I know i caused further damage because my left ear is muffled (full feeling). I should have given myself 5-6 months of just being in my room and not doing anything that would aggravate this.

 

@Michael Leigh I was right next to the muffler/car engine so i dont know, i am sure i damaged my hair cells further.

 

@Ambassador What about being right next to a car engine/muffler?

 

HI @dpdx

I can only give you my opinion on what I think is making your tinnitus/hyperacusis worse. I believe it is anxiety and stress that is affecting your emotional well-being that is making your condition worse. This is the reason I've suggested talking to your doctor. A referral to a Hearing Therapist/Audiologist, that specialises in the treatment and management of tinnitus would also help. I have mentioned this to you quite a few times.

It is your negative thinking that you have caused "damage" to your ears that also contributes to making you feel more stressed and this can make the tinnitus and hyperacusis more intrusive. It can become a vicious circle. The caloric test that you've had hasn't helped the situation because it has increased your symptoms. This in turn is making you believe more damage has occurred when I don't think there is any damage. It is negative thinking that is causing your problems.

You mentioned that you go to work. You should try and focus on this and think you're fortunate that you're able to work, because some people with tinnitus can't because it's so loud and intrusive. Speak to your doctor and explain how you feel and try and get some counselling as I believe it will help you.

Michael

 

I am stupid Michael. My Tinnitus was amazing from October-January. It was like it wasn't there, but i was stupid to kept pushing it and now i got burned. Sadly i did do damage as I have mild hearing loss
I wish i listened to you, please forgive me

 

You keep saying that word "Damaged" I wish you would stop saying it/writing it. It is doing you no good and try to stop using "sad" emotional faces. This is what I am talking about. You are reinforcing Negative thinking by writing these things continuously on the forum and on chat. Try to get out of this habit because it serves no useful purpose other than to make you feel worse. You say that you have hearing loss. Have you been told that you need a hearing aid? Hearing loss doesn't mean damage to your auditory system. Have a word with your GP soon....

 

A normal well maintained car exhaust is not loud enough to do any damage. You have a better chance of getting carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust than a tinnitus spike.

Automobile decibles are easily found on an internet search and cars at idle typically run in the 40 to 50 db range. No more damaging than a normal conversation.

Relax, you will stress yourself out and that will spike your tinnitus.

 

@dpdx

Please read the post below and click on the links at the bottom of the page and read those posts. I suggest that you print these articles and refer to them often, to help you think more positively.

Michael


Tinnitus and the negative mindset.

Whether a person is new to tinnitus or has had it for a while, they will know how debilitating it can be when it’s loud and intrusive. If hyperacusis is present it can make a bad situation worse and I fully understand this, as someone who’s had tinnitus for twenty-one years and once had very severe hyperacusis that has been cured for the passed eighteen years.

I am not going to pretend and say the habituation process is an easy one, although some will find the journey easier than others. My first noise trauma took two years to recover and the second four years. Throughout both ordeals I never allowed thoughts that my tinnitus would never improve or that my life was over to take hold, as I believed negative thinking would reinforce the belief that I faced a future of impending doom. I will admit that occasionally they crossed my mind but just for a fleeting moment and then I’d let them go and direct my thoughts elsewhere. Going out for a walk, playing relaxing music or even doing work around my home brought about the desired effect and helped me to focus on something else.

2010 was a particularly low point in my life as I was having a lot of difficulty coping with the tinnitus and asked my consultant to be candid about my condition, because I felt I had reached a plateau with TRT and wasn’t making any more improvement. Unfortunately it wasn’t as successful as the first time. My doctor confirmed what I had suspected but wasn’t prepared when told, I was the second worst tinnitus patient that she had met in all her years of practicing Audiovestibular medicine. I wanted the floor to open so I could fall in and all my troubles would be gone. I sensed a feeling of dark clouds looming over my head having been told something that I wish I hadn’t asked for.

My doctor said she would never give up on treating me and I was prescribed clonazepam. My recovery was slow but determined not to let the cacophony of noise that at times was tormenting, send me on a downward spiral into oblivion. Although my experience is unique because no two people experience tinnitus the same, it will not be strange to those that have travelled a similar road and come through it to tell their story.

I believe one of the biggest problems a person faces with tinnitus is having a negative mindset. This is completely different from feeling occasionally down or even negative which is something that this condition does to a person as it directly affects one’s emotions but doesn’t take hold or is allowed to fester. Having a negative mindset is not allowing any positive thoughts to come through about your tinnitus. The thought that it will never improve and you won’t respond to treatment takes precedence over everything else. If hyperacusis is present this can be intensified by the overuse of hearing protection, which reinforces negative thinking that even slightly raised sound levels are harmful. If one isn’t careful a fear of sound can develop known as phonophobia, to the point where a person feels scared to leave home thinking environmental sounds will make their condition worse.

Unfortunately it doesn’t stop there as relationship with people often suffers as a person becomes more withdrawn. This can induce depression and one can start to feel angry about their circumstances and vent their frustrations on those nearest to them. It can become an unhealthy situation to be in. Therefore, if person is slipping into a negative mindset, my advice is to seek help by contacting their GP. Perhaps getting a referral to a Hearing Therapist, psychiatrist or counsellor. Someone to talk to before the situation gets out of control.

My purpose for writing this post wasn’t to give an account of what I’ve been through with tinnitus but felt it necessary, to give a little background information as some people might think: It’s alright for you but you haven’t lived my life or know what I have to go through daily with tinnitus. I hope the above information will have given you some insight into what I’ve been through, as I know how debilitating this condition can be when severe. I have counselled people with it and continue to do so. Tinnitus has been around for centuries and like many medical conditions, a cure hasn’t yet been found. However, in most cases it can be successfully treated and there are a variety of different options available, enabling people go on and lead a normal life doing everything that they want to.

I wish you well.
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-mental-health.21978/

 

I just need to give myself some time. I been through a lot from Jan 15-now it has been HELL. I dont want to take anti anxiety pills they are too addicting.

 

Of course hearing loss means damage to the auditory system. What are you talking about?

 

With respect @dpdx this is your problem, you don't "listen" You do not realize that you could be slipping into a negative mindset and I believe you need help. Speak to your doctor I have mentioned this to you many times. I have had tinnitus for many years and know when a person needs help to manage their condition. It is not a sign of weakness and medication or antidepressants are not necessarily addictive. Please follow my advice speak to your GP

Michael

 

@Michael Leigh is he right?

 

@Ambassador What about a door slamming right next to the ear? (shrugs)

 

I thought it was the startup and muffler sound that you were concerned with. In any case it's not just sound but duration of exposure that causes damage. Of course that excludes gun fire and explosions which can do some damage immediately.
A slamming car door is never going to be loud enough to cause damage no matter how hard you slam it.

 

I'll admit that I didn't read this entire thread, it kind of goes off topic.

I'm no expert on tinnitus, but I would believe that an engine/muffler (or there lack of) could cause a spike and further hearing loss.
I've caught myself plugging my ears when ridiculously loud engines go by. It's a lot louder than your regular engine start.
I plug my ears for certain things throughout my day but I don't "over protect" as someone mentioned.
For example, I plug my ear that is closest to my coffee grinder when I turn it on because it's quite loud. I also plug my ears pacing a speaking that is a high pitched ding for the call bells at my work. I don't think it's in my head by any means that these two things cause my tinnitus to worsen, whether temporarily or permanently.

That being said, on a regular basis I don't think about protecting my ears at all. In fact, I think I've had tinnitus a lot longer than I even realize and that the only reason I started noticing it in October 2016 (constant since Jan 2017) was because I moved to the country from the city so my daily life is much more quiet.

Just try not to focus on "is this damaging my ears?!" on a daily basis. You'll drive yourself insane and will convince yourself that certain things caused a spike or worsening tinnitus even if they didn't. You've got to keep living your life to the best of your norm. You can't let tinnitus take over.

 

I advised you of the mental and physical ramifications of stress and did a bunch of research on anti-anxiety medication and gave you an entire list of non benzodiazepine drugs to ask your doctor about before you started this thread. As well as explaining to you that your incident with the Toyota was highly unlikely to cause hearing damage. Others are now telling you the exact same thing... Please take our advise and get some help brother.

-Ross

 

I don't believe that a spike means more damage to the auditory system or hearing loss btw.
For hearing loss to occur - I think- you have to go over the limit. Which is max 70 dB for 24 hours.
The 85 dB for 8 hours might already push it too far, if you do this reguraly.
But if you are exposed to 80 dB for lets say 2 hours, there is no reason why more damage to haircells should occur, but the T might spike.
Can someone comfirm if this is correct, because this is what I understood from doctors, other patients and self-research.

 

You are correct @JurgenG One of the biggest problems for people that have tinnitus and hypercausis, is themselves. It is the negative thinking over time and the believe that hearing damage will occur to their auditory system, at the slightest raised sound levels, that causes them harm psychologically. Overuse of hearing protection does more harm than good. If a person isn't careful, this will escalate to phonohopbia, misophonia and a host of other problems brought about by obsessive tendencies.

Michael