Can Fireworks Damage Hearing or Worsen Tinnitus / Hyperacusis If You're Indoors?

Hi,

I’ve been recovering from a reactivation of my noise-induced ear trauma (tinnitus and hyperacusis) for the last few months. I finally felt like my tinnitus was quieting and I was feeling so grateful.

At midnight last night I got woken up by a seemingly loud firework in close range of my apartment. My bedroom window was closed but a window in the living room was open... I tried to use the decibel calculator to figure out how many decibels could have reached me in my apartment. Does anyone know how to factor in if you were in a building? I would say this firework went off less than 500 feet from me, but I’m not sure the distance exactly.

I can’t tell if I’m gonna get a spike or not. I feel emotionally traumatized. I already had PTSD from this injury in the first place so it’s very difficult for me to tell if it’s my PTSD or if some thing is actually damaging my ears.

Any decibel information or general support would be appreciated. Feeling super defeated today.

Thanks,
Sara

 

You are going to be fine.

 

In my experience, yes fireworks outside can definitely be loud enough to cause spikes even if you're inside. It depends on how big they were and how close, and how much insulation your building has, and a mess of other factors. It also depends on how sensitive you are.

But if you're gonna get a spike from it, I think you'd already be noticing the symptoms such as increased ringing.

 

Thank you. So far the ringing seems the same so hopefully I’m in the clear. Feeling very emotional today though, which has happened the day after the last two significant ear injuries.

Hopefully it’s just the jolt of being awakened with fireworks, which surprised me since it’s October! I try not to live in fear, but I don’t always succeed.

S

 

Have you heard of delayed spikes? I feel like I get those.

 

Yes, you could worsen both, though very likely nothing that is permanent. Depends how close the fireworks were. Fireworks in my neighborhood (with my windows closed) that are, let us say, about 250-500 feet away, usually register at 75-90 decibels indoors (I measured them this 4th of July with a calibrated Class 2 SPL unit). That should not be enough to cause any permanent worsening. With one of your windows open in another room - maybe you got about 90-100 dB exposure (when I say dB, I mean dBC/dBZ - I never use the A-scale, as it is highly inaccurate for low-frequency sounds that normally cause the worst damage). Those 90-100 dB may cause a temporary spike but should not cause anything permanent.

And yes - I have gotten delayed spikes. Those are the worst. But even they eventually begin to decrease.

 

No, I had not heard of that happening. My ears usually react immediately, though I do remember my first spike happened a few days after the loud sound event that I blame as the primary cause. But I had continued to expose myself to 100+ dB music in the following days so I always just blamed it on the cumulative effect.

 

Fireworks outside can make tinnitus and hyperacusis worse. It depends on the decibel level and the distance, but they definitely can make damage.