Car Honked Close to Me: Tinnitus Spike and Hearing Loss Concerns

[Kuma-chan]

Hi,

A little bit about myself: I have had tinnitus since February this year, caused by ear syringing.

My hearing tests, including an extended audiogram up to 12.5 kHz, are normal. I am still trying to cope with it, but recently a car honked at me, which gave me a bit of anxiety.

This happened in a car park while I was walking. A car on my left side honked twice at their friends while I was literally less than one meter in front of it. My left ear was exposed, and it felt a bit blocked at the time. A couple of days later, I did feel somewhat better, but my tinnitus did spike a bit.

According to Wikipedia, a car horn can reach around 107 to 109 dB. In Australia, the NSW government website states it can go up to 120 dB, which is extremely loud. My question is: how likely is it that a single exposure like this could cause a permanent spike in tinnitus or lead to hearing loss?

I was also exposed to a truck air brake (less than one meter away) on my right side in the same week while walking. You know, the "psssh" sound that happens when a truck or bus stops. It did not seem as loud as the car horn, but when I looked it up, the noise level can reach up to 115 dB — oof, that is also quite loud.

 

[Jupiterman]

Have you considered wearing earplugs or earmuffs when there is a risk of that kind of exposure?

 

[Maruashen]

It is impossible to say for sure, but you are probably fine. You are feeling anxious right now, and that can play a big role in increasing tinnitus.

It is always a good idea to give your ears some rest in the first few days. It probably will not hurt, right?

It is very easy to become afraid of sounds, especially once you are aware of the potential damage they can cause. I mean, I used to go through life simply acknowledging sounds, like "Oh, a car is honking, whatever." But since I got tinnitus, my mind is more like, "Oh no, this is bad."

 

[GregCA]

My question is: how likely is it that a single exposure like this could cause a permanent spike in tinnitus or lead to hearing loss?

Not very likely.

 

[adpolandam]

Not very likely.

Even if the middle ear is overly mobile and hurts a lot with sudden sounds, to the point where it feels like the bones are touching, I do not think that is safe. Please be careful with sudden sounds, as they can damage the middle ear, not necessarily the cochlea.