Help! Spike in My Left Ear Due to Noise Exposure (Construction Work)

I had a spike in my left ear due to noise exposure. Construction work with blasting near my work. What should I do? I am freaking out.

 

Stay calm and breath slow.
Should not have done no perminant damage so will settle back down to your base sound.
Try keep sound on around you if you can or a fan on....lots of love glynis

 

Thank you. How long should it take to settle down? I am debating on going to the ER.

 

Blasting? How loud were the blasts? Does anyone else have tinnitus?

 

I'd say the blast was about 110 decibels, but I am totally estimating. It was short, but still very loud. I am the only one that has it here. I get made fun of for protecting my ears, but I wasn't expecting that... They are building across the street from my work.

 

I would. give it 48 hours but I'm sure it will settle......lots of love glynis

 

I am sorry that you had this episode, loud noise can spike T pretty bad at times. Just try to relax and see, how you feel in a few days. Don't panic, it is not the end of the world, you shall cope. If the volume of the T is that loud, then simply mask it or take a relaxation/herbal supplement. My T is super loud in both ears and I escape it by lifting heavy weights, sitting out in my yard drinking 1-2 glasses of fine red wine a day and just trying to relax.

T does not work well with panic modes, it just makes you more stressed out and can just raise the Volume of the T. Give it a few days and see how you feel..

Be well.......

 

I'm on the same boat op. I went to prom and my t was much louder and 5 days later it's still the same.. I hope yours goes back to normal good luck and stay strong

 

I went to the doctor yesterday and got prednisone. I take 10 mgs for 10 days. I hope this helps. I am scare of noise now. I am ready to put ear plugs in my ears for life, but then my T screams. Either way I am at a loss.

 

Can 10 days of prednisone do anything? According to my doc - no, but if you're really so afraid why not after all..only not too often cause it's no candy either. Each time I freak out after a noise exposure I take NAC , VIT C, MAGNESIUM. Always have some on me, just in case. It was a short noise and could that be louder than 120 ? Theoretically shouldn't cause damage and chances are you had a pike because you freaked out and not because you had a hearing damage. Take large amounts of good quality vit C - that can't hurt you and is a strong antioxidant. You hair cells will like it and it will help them un-bent ( in case they were really harmed ) .

 

@Gosia - I am taking 4 pills the first and second day, then 3 pills for 3 days, and 2 pills for 3 days, and 1 pill for the last 2 days. I am not sure if it will help, but it can't hurt. I'll take your suggestions and pick up the Vit C and Magnesium. I haven't tried those yet. I already take NAC on a pretty regular basis. It was a pretty long blast. The sound echoed from surrounding buildings. I'd guess initial sound was around 110 and fading off. I thought damage started at 90. I did freak out big time. I had my hands full and couldn't cover my ears. I should have just dropped everything in hindsight.

 

Still, it was outside, that's a little comfort.. How long was the exposure ? Yep, the thumb rule for us - always have hands free outside in case you need to cover the ears..

 

@Gosia - it was outside but it was close. I felt the sound go through me. I'd was quick blast but still it was loud. Agreed free hands

 

I heard NAC can lower vitamin C levels and that is why some bottles recommend you take it with fruit juice.

 

Okay I have this theory but have never tried it but you could talk with an audiologist or very experienced hearing aid specialist. My theory is, you get a custom ear mold for your ear and then attach it to the reciever (kind of like the little speaker) of a hearing aid. This will block a lot of ambient noise when you plug your ear with it. Then you program the hearing aid to correct your hearing loss which should lessen your tinnitus. Then lastly, (and this is the part that I don't know if they can do 100% so you would have to ask) is you have the hearing aids set to clip any noise above a certain dB.

Clipping:

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/audio/imgaud/amp2.gif

Hearing aid with custom mold picture (don't worry, they can be smaller and in different colors )

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/37/61/58/376158bbdd476c79e6e35b3463f87fcd.jpg

 

@JasonP Great ideas Jason! I'll look into that... I just had custom ear plugs made so they already have a mold. Too bad I didn't get them sooner.

 

Thanks! I believe though if you buy hearing aids, they will can a special mold (which I believe is included in the price of the aid) that will hook up to a tube (I think but it may be a wire) which goes to the hearing aid! You can call up a hearing aid specialist and ask them more about it! I wish you the best!

 

Construction can not be that loud if there are bystanders while construction personnel is required to wear ear protection. If so they are breaking the maximum sound exposure level and you should call the police to get in touch with whatever regulatory organ there is there, to complain about this.
The municipality should send a regulator with a dB meter and if he concludes the sound is too loud he will stop all work until they find a way to do it without the noise, and they'll fine the construction company.
Look at it this way, government loves fining people, the construction company deserves it, and you have 15 minutes to lose asking about this.
That's what I would do.

I'm so sorry for your T spike, hope you get better soon.

 

@Cityjohn thank you for the information. I will follow up on that...called the police and they told me to contact the Department of Labor and Licensing. I'm doing that on Monday. Thanks again.