5-1-33 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture 814-0002
092-851-9893
Honda ENT Clinic
Ear, nose, and throat clinic in Nishijin
Today, July 17th
This is a regular consultation .
acoustic trauma
If you experience ringing in your ears after a live performance or similar event, please consult us as soon as possible.
Live performances, concerts, headphones, loud game sounds, explosion sounds, etc.
After hearing a loud noise
"My ears feel blocked," "I have a ringing in my ears," "I have trouble hearing."
I sometimes feel that way.
This is called acoustic trauma, caused by loud noises.
It occurs when the inner ear is damaged.
The Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery also states that ear fullness, tinnitus, and hearing loss after live concerts are...
This is described as a symptom of acute acoustic trauma.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
My ears ring after a live concert or loud noise.
My ears feel clogged.
The sound is muffled.
The conversation is difficult to understand.
Hearing loss in only one ear
The ringing in my ears and general discomfort persisted the next morning.
If you have these symptoms, do not ignore them thinking "it will get better on its own,"
We recommend you see a doctor as soon as possible.
If the symptoms are mild and treatment is started early, recovery is possible.
If left untreated or repeated, it can become more difficult to heal.
What is acoustic trauma?
Acoustic trauma occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea of the inner ear are damaged by loud noises.
This condition can cause hearing difficulties and tinnitus.
Hair cells are important cells that convert sound vibrations into electrical signals and transmit them to the brain,
Prolonged exposure to loud noises can damage the ears and lead to sensorineural hearing loss.
Hair cells that have been severely damaged are difficult to regenerate.
Hearing may not recover.
Difference from noise-induced hearing loss
音響外傷は、ライブ・爆発音・スピーカー近くなど、
比較的短時間の大きな音で起こることがあります。
一方、騒音性難聴は、工場音や工事音などの騒音に
長期間さらされることで、少しずつ進行する難聴です。
どちらも内耳へのダメージが関係します。
Tests performed at our hospital
At Honda ENT Clinic, after checking the symptoms and their progression,
We will examine the inside of your ear and perform a hearing test if necessary.
Checking the eardrum and external auditory canal
Standard pure-tone audiometry
Checking for differences between the left and right ears and hearing loss in the high-frequency range.
Check for the presence of tinnitus, ear fullness, and dizziness.
Acoustic trauma can cause hearing loss, particularly in the high-frequency range.
It has been reported that hearing loss due to noise tends to decrease from around 4000Hz.
About treatment
If acoustic trauma is suspected, check the hearing condition and the time elapsed since the onset of symptoms.
We will consider oral medication if necessary.
Steroids and other medications may be used in a similar manner to those used for sudden hearing loss,
Treatment plans are determined based on symptoms, hearing test results, and overall health.
Because hearing loss may become fixed over time after the onset of symptoms,
It's important to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Guidelines for seeking medical attention
Please see an ENT specialist as soon as possible if any of the following apply to you.
The tinnitus continued the next day.
Some hearing difficulties remain.
I feel like one ear is blocked.
The sound is muffled after the live performance.
I have dizziness and severe tinnitus.
I've experienced the same symptoms repeatedly.
Prevention points
When listening to music with earphones or headphones,
It's important to lower the volume and avoid doing it for extended periods.
The Japanese Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery,
Limit listening to music with earphones or headphones to less than one hour per day.
The article mentions that the WHO has issued a warning about this.
Furthermore, the WHO's guidelines for safe listening include:
Up to 40 hours per week at 80dB, and up to 75 minutes per week at 98dB.
The following guidelines have also been introduced.
I tend to turn up the volume in noisy places like subways,
Using the noise-canceling function makes it easier to hear at low volumes.
From Honda ENT Clinic
Even if you experience tinnitus or ear blockage after a live performance or event,
Many people tend to think, "Maybe they're just tired," and wait to see what happens.
However, acoustic trauma can sometimes be treated and recovered from if addressed promptly.
If you continue to experience discomfort, please consult us as soon as possible.
Do acoustic injuries heal on their own?
In mild cases, improvement may occur,
Hearing loss and tinnitus may persist, so early medical consultation is important.
ライブ後の耳鳴りは何日続いたら受診？
If the symptoms persist until the next day, we recommend you see a doctor.
What is the difference between this and noise-induced hearing loss?
Acoustic trauma is caused by a short burst of extremely loud noise.
Noise-induced hearing loss progresses with prolonged exposure to noise.