When you think of tinnitus, the medical term for a ringing or other phantom noise in the ears, you probably think of especially loud events, like concerts. However, even everyday sounds can cause this symptom, like traffic noise. Below we review what one study has shown about this link.
About the Study
The study in question, entitled “Transportation Noise and Risk of Tinnitus: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Denmark,” was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives in February 2023.
The study aimed to investigate the association between residential transportation noise and the risk of incident tinnitus.
Study Methods
The researchers conducted a nationwide cohort study including all residents of Denmark ages 30 and over. A total of 40,692 participants were diagnosed with tinnitus. The researchers then modeled road traffic and railway noise at the most and least exposed buildings of all Danish addresses from 1990 to 2017.
Study Results
According to the researchers, “We found positive associations between exposure to road traffic noise and risk of tinnitus… Highest risk estimates were found for women, people without a hearing loss, people with high education and income, and people who had never been in a blue-collar job.”
More specifically, they found that for every 10 decibels more noise in people’s homes, the risk of tinnitus increased by 6%.
How Does Traffic Noise Cause Tinnitus?
Inside the inner ears is the cochlea, which is lined with tiny hair cells called stereocilia. As soundwaves pass through the ears, they stimulate the stereocilia, which convert them into electrical energy that travels to the brain via the auditory nerve to be interpreted as sound.
When dangerously loud sounds pass through the ears, they damage the stereocilia, causing them to misfire. This is why you experience tinnitus following noise exposure.
How Can I Prevent Tinnitus?
You can prevent tinnitus caused by noise exposure by wearing hearing protection. You can also visit an audiologist for custom-fit hearing protection.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist, call Gulf Coast Audiology today.