The term “tinnitus” describes a phantom ringing, roaring, whistling, hissing, humming, buzzing or other sound in the ear that has no external source. While many people think of extremely loud events as being the main trigger for tinnitus, like rock concerts or explosions, the fact of the matter is that even everyday sounds can cause this symptom. Traffic noise is one possible cause of tinnitus. We review more about the connection between traffic noise and tinnitus below.
What the Research Shows
One study, “Transportation Noise and Risk of Tinnitus: A Nationwide Cohort Study from Denmark,” was published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2023. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between residential transportation noise and the risk of incident tinnitus.
The researchers conducted a nationwide cohort study that included all residents of Denmark ages 30 and over. Of this total population, 40,692 had been diagnosed with tinnitus. They then modeled road traffic and railway noise at the most and least exposed buildings of all Danish addresses between 1990 and 2017.
The researchers found that for every 10 decibels more noise in people’s homes, the risk of tinnitus increased by 6%.
According to the study authors, “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.”
How Does Traffic Noise Cause Tinnitus?
Inside the inner ear is the cochlea, which is lined with tiny sensory cells called stereocilia. As soundwaves pass through the ears, they stimulate the stereocilia, which convert the waves into electrical energy that travels via the auditory nerve to the brain to be interpreted as sound.
Whenever a dangerously loud sound passes through the ears, it can damage or destroy the stereocilia, causing them to misfire. This is why you experience tinnitus after noise exposure.
How Can I Prevent Tinnitus?
You can prevent tinnitus caused by noise exposure by wearing hearing protection whenever you’re exposed to unsafe noise levels, including city traffic. You can purchase disposable earplugs or earmuffs at Just Sports on Contra Costa Boulevard, or you can visit an audiologist at Valley Audiology for custom-fit hearing protection.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with an expert audiologist, call Valley Audiology today.