The AudioNotch Tinnitus Treatment Blog

Please note: the following information does not constitute professional medical advice, and is provided for general informational purposes only. Please speak to your doctor if you have tinnitus.

One of the most common causes of tinnitus is exposure to loud sounds. In many cases, the sounds are heard on a recurring basis. For example, musicians often develop tinnitus due to their exposure to loud music, and construction workers, pilots and others may also hear loud sounds regularly while on the job. However, even a single loud sound can be enough to cause tinnitus in some people. For example, you can develop tinnitus from loud explosion sounds. These include bombs exploding and gunshots as well as various other loud sounds in your environment. Because of this, soldiers may also commonly develop this condition.

Preventing Tinnitus
Soldiers can take steps to prevent tinnitus. For example, if you are going into a training mission or a battle zone, you may wear ear plugs to minimize the impact on your ears. It can be impossible to prevent exposure to loud sounds if you are a soldier, but you can buffer the sounds from impacting your ears as much as possible. You can also be aware of the symptoms of tinnitus from loud explosion sounds so that you can begin seeking treatment as soon as possible if it does develop. The symptoms include a recurring or constant sound that may be ringing, chirping, static of other bothersome sounds. They may sound louder or softer, and they may seem to be more intense in areas with minimal background noise. For example, when you are trying to sleep in a quiet room, the sounds may seem louder or more bothersome.

Seeking Treatment
When you do develop tinnitus from loud explosion sounds, there are a few different treatment options that you may try. Some will seek surgery to correct damage to the inner ear, but you may consider alternatives to surgery as a first step. For example, tonal therapy is highly effective with many people. You may simply have to wear headphones and listen to music or other sounds for a few minutes each day, and you will find that the sound therapy option reduces the intensity of the tinnitus symptoms dramatically within a few weeks. Some also find that meditation or other forms of relaxation exercises can take the mind off of the tinnitus symptoms.

Whether you are a soldier or you have another job or hobbies that may expose you to loud noises, you should take steps to protect your ears as much as possible. This can decrease the likelihood that you may have to seek treatment for tinnitus.