13 Year Old with Ringing Ears — Very Loud Balloon Pop

[AMJL]

Hello,

My son was blowing up a balloon with the intent to pop it. It was soooo loud (sounded like a rifle going off - I have never heard a balloon pop that loud). Needless to say, his ears were affected by the bang. He has ringing in both ears (that he can tell anyway). I told him there isn't much we can do other than avoid secondary loud noises until his hearing recovers. I hope he doesn't have to deal with this for too long.

Any advice appreciated. I struggle with intermittent hearing troubles and I definitely don't want that for him

 

[Digital Doc]

Sorry to hear of the noise event, and balloon pops can be quite loud.

You have given him good advice to avoid further noise exposure. He should not be exposed to headphones, and earbuds. Also, avoid if possible the vacuum cleaner, lawn mower and the like. I wear my earplugs if another family member is using these nearby.

There is a really good chance that this tinnitus could go away, but it often takes months.

 

[GSC]

If it's very recent, he might be able to get a dose of prednisolin/prednisone, if they give it out to kids. Tell the ER your son was exposed to a gun shot and now his ears are ringing -- ( since I don't think they'll prescribe it for a balloon pop. ) Magnesium glycinate - chelated, might be able to help him as well.

 

[StubbyJ]

As he's young there's a huge possibility of it going away. I would avoid the "treatments" mentioned on here (aside from what is mentioned above). I, as well as many have been made worse because of them. The only thing I would do is mask with natural sounds..streams, birds and whatnot. As mentioned no headphones. Let the body take care of it.

 

[Michael Leigh]

HI @AMJL

You have been given very good advice by Digtal doc. Hopefully your son will recover from the tinnitus with time. Please tell him not to use any form of headphones for at least 3 to 6 months after the tinnitus goes away. If he returns to using them keep the volume as low as possible and not to wear them for too long and not too often. If I were him I would never use headphones again. I know this sounds extreme, but headphones are one the main causes of tinnitus, due to people using them at too high a volume and wearing them for long durations.

Please click on the links below and read my articles that you might find helpful

All the best
Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

[Digital Doc]

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170130133336.htm

Bursting balloons can get louder than a shotgun!

 

[AMJL]

Thank you everyone. He says the ringing is gone now. Hopefully it stays away but as a precaution I am going to remind him not to expose himself to other loud noises or headphones/earphones of any sort. That will be a hard one as he uses a headset for the Xbox but that's what he gets for insisting on blowing up a balloon to pop it. It was SO loud. As loud as fireworks. It was one of those long, make animal, balloons and he was pumping it up with a manual pump. It got really big. I didn't think anything of it. I wish I had of. Also very glad my 7 year old granddaughter wasn't seemingly affected as she was outside not far away but says she doesn't feel anything off.

So thank you again everyone for your help. Our ears really are a precious thing. I know from experience there is not much worse of a feeling than not being able to hear properly. It is so suffocating.

 

[GSC]

Thank you everyone. He says the ringing is gone now. Hopefully it stays away but as a precaution I am going to remind him not to expose himself to other loud noises or headphones/earphones of any sort. That will be a hard one as he uses a headset for the Xbox but that's what he gets for insisting on blowing up a balloon to pop it. It was SO loud. As loud as fireworks. It was one of those long, make animal, balloons and he was pumping it up with a manual pump. It got really big. I didn't think anything of it. I wish I had of. Also very glad my 7 year old granddaughter wasn't seemingly affected as she was outside not far away but says she doesn't feel anything off.

So thank you again everyone for your help. Our ears really are a precious thing. I know from experience there is not much worse of a feeling than not being able to hear properly. It is so suffocating.

Make sure you ask him a week later that it's gone just to make sure, okay? Also, to eliminate all caution, have him go in the quietest room in the house, in silence, to see if it's really gone just to be on the safe side. Do not let him use his headset any time soon if you can implement that. I'm glad it's went away though! I'm very happy for him!

 

[Contrast]

Ask if if he experiences "pain from sound"?

Take magnesium and go to a GP and see if you can get a steroid, mention loud noise injured his ears.

 

[Michael Leigh]

not being able to hear properly. It is so suffocating.

Not being able to hear properly must be awful and everything that you say but with tinnitus the sad truth is this:
The majority of people that experience tinnitus have normal hearing. If they have some hearing loss it isn't much, this is particularly so in people with "noise induced tinnitus" which affected your son.

I know he is young and wants to use his head-set. Please tell him from me someone that has had tinnitus for many years, it can be a living nightmare living with this condition if it becomes severe and that is the sobering truth. Please tell him to keep the volume level of his head-set as low as possible the same applies when listening to music through headphones or earbuds, and not to wear them for more than 1hr at a time without giving the ears a rest. If he starts to hear ringing or buzzing which is most noticeable late at night when it quiet, stop using headset, headphones or being exposed to loud sounds immediately.

I only wish I had someone to tell me what I have just written to you and it would have saved me a lot of pain and heartache over the years and still causes me difficulty on occasions.

All the best
Michael

 

[Arseny]

HBOT is the only safe option here. Steroids can inhibit growth. Not worth it.
Add magnesium and b12 injections.

 

[Julien87]

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170130133336.htm

Bursting balloons can get louder than a shotgun!

Only when blown until rupture...

In the other cases it is below 150 dB (at 1 meter, figures above are at 0 meter). Still very loud though.

@AMJL
I suggest you to seek the help of a health professional asap. Could you see an ENT very quickly?

 

[Daniel Lion]

Thank you everyone. He says the ringing is gone now. Hopefully it stays away but as a precaution I am going to remind him not to expose himself to other loud noises or headphones/earphones of any sort. That will be a hard one as he uses a headset for the Xbox but that's what he gets for insisting on blowing up a balloon to pop it. It was SO loud. As loud as fireworks. It was one of those long, make animal, balloons and he was pumping it up with a manual pump. It got really big. I didn't think anything of it. I wish I had of. Also very glad my 7 year old granddaughter wasn't seemingly affected as she was outside not far away but says she doesn't feel anything off.

So thank you again everyone for your help. Our ears really are a precious thing. I know from experience there is not much worse of a feeling than not being able to hear properly. It is so suffocating.

Don't just remind him about headphones, lay down the law and explain why.

Adults make rules and boundaries to help children navigate life safely.

Like... no smoking, don't play with electrical wires, don't play with fire, protect your ears and eyes. A few of the blokes I grew up with died young from stupid stuff...

The Xbox is a no brainer, you set the rules, the child understands it's in his or her interest and follows the rules. Everybody is safe and happy.

Just explain, I'm sure the little one won't want ringing again...

Good luck, be strong.