Tinnitus

I’m quite sensitive to noise and have been taking precautions like wearing ear pro and avoiding loud noises for a few years now. Nevertheless, I still seem to do something about once a year that makes my tinnitus flare up again, so I thought I’d list some of the unexpected sources I’ve been caught out by.

• Driving – driving can be an insidious source of hearing damage. Components can wear out gradually, gradually increasing the noise levels in the car. Noises can be low frequency, which is harder to notice. Examples:

  • Tyres, bushings, suspension and steering components wearing out. Increases transmission of road noise into the cabin.

  • Exhaust deterioration causing gradually increasing leakage of combustion noise. Low rumbling/burbling sound.

  • Other engine and drivetrain components (e.g. bearings, belts, pulleys, anything that spins) also wear out.

  • Low engine oil level can increase noise.

• Any noisy power tool or appliance. This includes hoovers, washing machines, and seemingly less noisy tools like battery drills.

  • Holding a drill close to your head makes a big difference. (Sound pressure increases non-linearly with proximity.)

• Loud bars/restaurants.

• Traffic.

• Travel, in general. For example:

  • Smaller passenger planes such as the De Havilland DASH-8 (turbo prop) allow much more engine noise into the cabin, and it seems more sensitive to seating position, although nowhere was comfortable on the DASH-8 I flew on.

  • With the vents open, track noise from the London Underground.

  • I am fairly sure the PA speakers on planes and trains are above the hearing damage threshold on at least most of the last few trips I’ve taken with Virgin Atlantic, Norse Atlantic, and UK train services.