Question About Noise Loudness Level and How It Changes Upon a Different Distance

[Apocalypse77]

I know, this is not the best place to ask this question.

So let's say you have a little button that makes a 65 dB noise (measured 1 meter away), how loud would this noise be when you stuck this button inside your ear?

 

[Markku]

So let's say you have a little button that makes a 65 dB noise (measured 1 meter away), how loud would this noise be when you stuck this button inside your ear?

Adult human ear canal is on average about 2.5 cm long (from the pinna to the eardrum).

Let's assume you have the button about 1 cm from your eardrum.

According to this tool, it would be 105 dB in this scenario.

But the site also goes to explain:

In the real world, the inverse square law is always an idealization because it assumes exactly equal sound propagation in all directions. If there are reflective surfaces in the sound field, then reflected sounds will add to the directed sound and you will get more sound at a field location than the inverse square law predicts. If there are barriers between the source and the point of measurement, you may get less than the inverse square law predicts. Nevertheless, the inverse square law is the logical first estimate of the sound you would get at a distant point in a reasonably open area.​

 

[Apocalypse77]

@Markku Yesterday I was putting some ear cleaning spray to my right ear. I have not used it in a couple of months so it made a wheezing sound while it was inside my ear. And with my luck my good ear was this ear that got exposed to this sound (my other ear doesn't hear all high frequency sounds) . Now it is the second day and my ear feels blocked. So the spraying sound is probably 65-75 dB measured 1 meter away, and when it was in my ear wouldn't the new distance be like 0.001 cm. But then the decibel reading jumped to 200 dB, omg I hope it is not that loud .

By the way Markku, are you from Finland?

 

[Alue]

@Markku Yesterday I was putting some ear cleaning spray to my right ear. I have not used it in a couple of months so it made a wheezing sound while it was inside my ear. And with my luck my good ear was this ear that got exposed to this sound (my other ear doesn't hear all high frequency sounds) . Now it is the second day and my ear feels blocked. So the spraying sound is probably 65-75 dB measured 1 meter away, and when it was in my ear wouldn't the new distance be like 0.001 cm. But then the decibel reading jumped to 200 dB, omg I hope it is not that loud .

By the way Markku, are you from Finland?

lol the 200dB is not possible. 194 dB is the loudest sound possible in air. It would be distorting the wave and essentially creating a shock wave beyond that. There's no way it was anywhere close to that.

 

[Apocalypse77]

@Alue yes I know. If a sound is more than 160 dB that would mean ear drum rupture. But I mean that the sound could have been around 130 dB because the thing was literally inside my ear.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Hi @Apocalypse77

I understand that you are feeling upset and perhaps angry that you got tinnitus being exposed to loud noise for what seems a brief amount of time. For some people this is all it takes but since you have had this condition for a while now, I think it's best to try and not to dwell over this at it will only put more stress on you and likely to make the tinnitus more intrusive. If you also have hyperacusis then this isn't a good combination when they are severe so try and be careful.

Have you had any treatment at ENT, as there are various kinds that are helpful? Tinnitus is a common condition that comes in many forms and intensities. Although no two people experience it the same, many do habituate in time and go on to lead a fulfilling life doing everything that they want to without it impacting too much on their life.
Try and get a referral to see a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that practices treatment and the management of tinnitus. Please click on the links below and read my articles that you might find helpful.

All the best
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/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-mental-health.21978/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-habituation-possible.12758/
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

 

[Apocalypse77]

I am so pissed. I have protected my hearing so good as I can. I have not even done some things because I thought they would damage my hearing (going to an amusement park, playing games with headphones) and now this fucking thing ruined my hearing.

@Michael Leigh I have no went to ENT yet. I will see a doctor in next month.