How Loud Are Roman Catholic Churches?

[Apocalypse77]

I have to go to a Roman Catholic church tomorrow. I have never been in a Roman Catholic church, because I am not a roman catholic. Are they loud enough to cause hearing damage?

 

[jer]

Churches are very loud because of the acoustics of the church. Especially the singing part is very loud. I would advice you to just leave during that part if you can.

 

[Julien87]

It depends...
In some churches there is an organ, which can make quite loud music.

 

[Tinker Bell]

It really depends on the architecture, what musical instruments are used and their placement, how crowded it is, where you sit and even who you sit by.

I wear earplugs during parts of church services (sermons are not typically loud) and over time have figured out where to sit.

As for whether it will cause hearing damage, I am not sure that would happen with only one hour or so with a mix of talking and singing. If it did, regular church attendees would suffer hearing loss far more than non-attendees.

 

[fishbone]

I go to church quite a bit. I have measured the DB and its at 80 or 83(when they sing). For me that's no issue, if for you it is, then either not go or wear an ear plug.

Good luck

 

[Apocalypse77]

I go to church quite a bit. I have measured the DB and its at 80 or 83(when they sing). For me that's no issue, if for you it is, then either not go or wear an ear plug.

Does this church have pipe organs?

 

[Apocalypse77]

Churches are very loud because of the acoustics of the church. Especially the singing part is very loud. I would advice you to just leave during that part if you can.

It's not a church with a band. There are only pipe organs.

 

[jimH]

where you sit and even who you sit by.
.

Very true! I've attended many services in numerous Roman Catholic churches over the years. Perhaps not the loudest but the most unpleasant thing (for my ears) that I've ever heard is small children sitting near me when they cry, scream or start acting up (temper tantrum).

@Apocalypse77 ....bring your ear plugs just in case. It's better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

 

[dingaling]

Why just Roman Catholic Churches...? Any church can be noisy depending on the architecture, the choir, where you sit, what state of mind you are in, how anxious you might be because of the (possible) noise levels, whether you sit near the organ pipes, what stops the organist is using, whether or not classical instruments are being played, young children crying incessantly...the list goes on...

 

[fishbone]

Does this church have pipe organs?

No, it doesn't. Id take a DB meter and see just how loud it is. I know what I can handle, sound wise. Take your ear plugs in case.

 

[jer]

Organs, that sounds loud! Make sure to bring some serious ear protection.

 

[Apocalypse77]

Organs, that sounds loud! Make sure to bring some serious ear protection.

I live in a small country. It's not a big church. I have been in many churches that have pipe organs and the music did not sound loud at all.

 

[JurgenG]

Organs, that sounds loud! Make sure to bring some serious ear protection.

Bring ear protection, but I don't understand what you mean with seriour ear-protection? It's not needed to feed the axciety on this forum. It's not like it's a four hour rock concert.
Maybe it depends on the country but I doubt you'll ever have it going over 90 dB. Some earplugs nearby for the musical pieces might be handy.

 

[Apocalypse77]

There was an old lady near me singing. It was loud, but the pipe organs weren't loud at all. The church lasted for 1.15 h. It was an interesting ceremony.

 

[Apocalypse77]

I got a permanent spike 100% sure.

 

[JurgenG]

I got a permanent spike 100% sure.

You just said it wasn't too loud? Why do you think you have a permanent spike now?
How can you be sure? Did you use any protection?

 

[jer]

@JurgenG i am not trying to feed anything. You don't know what this persons tinnitus is like and they always say to better bring too much than too little.

 

[Apocalypse77]

You just said it wasn't too loud? Why do you think you have a permanent spike now?
How can you be sure? Did you use any protection?

Yes I had. I bought new earplugs and inserted them correctly! They were really deep inside my ears they blocked noise good!! But my T is so loud now I have never experienced anything like this. I am weak I can't take it anymore FHML

 

[Bill Bauer]

I have been in many churches that have pipe organs and the music did not sound loud at all.

Did you visit those other churches back before you got your tinnitus?

 

[Bill Bauer]

I got a permanent spike 100% sure.

It will most likely not going to be permanent, but it sounds like you might have used up another "second chance", and as you know we are given only a limited number of second chances.

I am not sure why you decided to take this risk. I didn't say anything when you started this thread, as by now you know as much as me about what is at stake when you take risks like that...

 

[Bill Bauer]

It's not needed to feed the axciety on this forum.

It makes sense to be anxious about scary things that might disable one for life. My anxiety keeps me safe. The topic starter's latest posts prove that he could have benefited from some anxiety, but even if he were to be ok, the risk is real, as you can see it if you read the horror stories shared by other sufferers on this forum.

 

[Tinker Bell]

I got a permanent spike 100% sure.

A permanent spike? It just happened so how can you say with confidence that it's permanent? You've had multiple incidents that you thought created permanent spikes. If every single incidence created a permanent spike, your tinnitus must be at a very catastrophic level by now where you're struggling to hear anything over it.

 

[JurgenG]

Yes I had. I bought new earplugs and inserted them correctly! They were really deep inside my ears they blocked noise good!! But my T is so loud now I have never experienced anything like this. I am weak I can't take it anymore FHML

Sorry to hear man! But I doubt you did any new damage, you might have spiked your T because you have a form of H?

It makes sense to be anxious about scary things that might disable one for life. My anxiety keeps me safe. The topic starter's latest posts prove that he could have benefited from some anxiety, but even if he were to be ok, the risk is real, as you can see it if you read the horror stories shared by other sufferers on this forum.

I am not gonna start the discussion here, but I am also a part of the axiety group and it did not help me. I think about every move I make, it's not healthy.

We should not live in fear like that, even with T. I've talked to hunderds of people with T, who just live a normal life, and don't have to lock themself up.
On "using up a second chance," I don't believe this to be the case here, he did not cross any safety-limits. Give it time.
We weren't there with calibrated dB meters but I suspect that he overprotected himself quite a lot the last months, and this was louder than usual, just not too loud to kill haircells.
Correct me if I am wrong, veterans.

 

[Apocalypse77]

I measured the decibel level on my phone. When the choir was singing and the pipes organ were also on the decibel level was 78 dB. When all started singing and the pipe organ was playing it got up to 86 db.

 

[JurgenG]

I measured the decibel level on my phone. When the choir was singing and the pipes organ were also on the decibel level was 78 dB. When all started singing and the pipe organ was playing it got up to 86 db.

To my knowledge, and many others here, I am sure.
Its almost impossible that those levels gave you new damage, even without plugs.

What is going on, is, correct me if I am wrong, that you have gotten too sensitive and that spiked your T..
I've been there...

 

[Apocalypse77]

What is going on, is, correct me if I am wrong, that you have gotten too sensitive and that spiked your T..
I've been there...

I don't know. I am still 90 % sure this is a permanent spike. My T is so loud. I will protect my hearing for this week really good!

 

[Apocalypse77]

If this spike goes away I will go outside and wish everyone merry Christmas.

 

[JurgenG]

I know this might seem useless advise, but try to keep calm, get lots of rest. Maybe plan a visit to your doctor and tell him what happened, might -if needed- give you a course of predisone.
Try to drink plenty, mask it, and maybe look into some magnesium/ginkgo/etc.

 

[Apocalypse77]

How am I going ro live with this. This is the second day, it is now quieter, but still!

 

[Apocalypse77]

This is stupid I wouldn't have for sure got permanent tinnitus if I wouldn't have damaged my hearing in the go kart racing? How is it possible that now my T is louder?