Really Scared My Hearing Has Been Damaged by an Ambulance Siren?

Sped past you? Like in 5 seconds? Was this the first time it happened? How far were you from the siren? The longer the exposure, and the closer you are to the source the more damaging the loud sounds are. That's the general idea. But I don't think you could have damaged your hearing by this one short event, unless you already had some damage before which may have worsened now.

Did you visit a GP, or an ENT doctor? Did you have you hearing tested?

 

I wish these truck drivers were more considerate when honking the horns and firing the siren. They are hurting their own ears and the ears of their crew as much as they are hurting all the bystanders. Besides the sirens, emergency vehicles also have the warning lights. Those are not just for show you know. Those can be very effective even without the siren.

I don't know what it's like in other countries, but unless the emergency is of highest priority we don't use the sirens in Sweden. Sometimes only the lights are used. Any sane (and sober) person will step aside and make room on the road for the emergency units to pass through. No need to blast people with sirens and horns.

It's thought as if emergency service people are dying for attention! "Hey look at me, I'm a fire truck driver! Watch out! Here I come!"

 

Don't give us too much credit! We have had ambulances and fire trucks crashing into each other, and police cars ramming down people. The problem usually sits 60 cm behind the windshield.

That does seem pretty close. They should shut it off right before they arrive at the scene. But it should not be too damaging to your ears unless you already have some damage or you are sensitive to loud sounds. You can try blocking the sound with your hands next time. I sometimes do that when I hear them approach, now more so then before.

Sounds like Sweden! With the exception that we have to go past the nurse first, before we see the GP. The GP is not an ear specialist. He can only write a referral to an ENT doctor. This all takes time, and by the time you get to the right doctor your symptoms may have worsened or subsided.

Not sure what they could do anyway, even if you get there straight away. Some ENT doctors will give you steroids in an attempt to save your hearing after a traumatic event, but this seems to be more of a practice they do in the US, and even there it seems that only a few doctors do this. There are oral steroid and there are steroid injections they give you through the ear drum. This is used for sudden hearing loss. I think most doctors will tell you to take it easy and avoid loud sounds for some time to give your ears time to recover.

There is a lot to wish for in the way that hearing problems are treated following a traumatic event. I think it should be treated like a serious medical emergency. They should also administer steroid injections or whatever else they find has a protective and healing effect.

Have you done any hearing tests recently? Do you have any hearing loss? I think you will be fine, just avoid these kind of situations if you can. Also, seek out an ENT and have yourself checked out. That might help you bring an ease of mind, and that goes a long way. Do a hearing test if you haven't already. If you see an ENT he will probably order a hearing test for you at the clinic.

According to that paper, they have reduced the siren (wail) level in all vehicles delivered from 2006 and onward by 7 dB, from 109 dB to 102 dB. Maybe you met with one of the older models, who knows! But it's a good thing that they are making these changes. So it's not at standstill.