Dog Barking Woes

[Tanni]

Dog bark decibels can be around 100 dB and if you're like me you'll snuggle with them and they will just randomly bark loud next to your head. Had that happen several times with my former dogs.

And your tinnitus was fine/not fine when the dogs barked?

 

[Wrfortiscue]

And your tinnitus was fine/not fine when the dogs barked?

I had regular habituated tinnitus then.

 

[PeteJ]

And what applies to dogs, applies to concerts and to any loud noise that could make tinnitus worse. I think Brian P summed it up when he described the dog as a mobile alarm.

Um, WRONG. Concerts are known to cause ear ringing to People with NORMAL EARS/HEARING. The loud noise is also 100+ dB and sustained for a much longer period of time.

I know how a dog bark can spike tinnitus and cause ear pain but your comparison is ridiculous.

 

[PeteJ]

Dog bark decibels can be around 100 dB and if you're like me you'll snuggle with them and they will just randomly bark loud next to your head. Had that happen several times with my former dogs.

Yes, but still not comparable to concerts.

My dog has barked beside me before. But, going to see Metallica, live, for 2 or 3 hours, is fucking stupid for a tinnitus sufferer if you ask me.

 

[Tanni]

I had regular habituated tinnitus then.

I take it that means it didn't spike it.

I ask because this thread has so far implied that anyone with tinnitus wanting to get a dog (or have a baby, in fact) is stupid - including the people who upvoted the comment. Yet so many with tinnitus have dogs and are fine.

 

[Wrfortiscue]

I take it that means it didn't spike it.

I ask because this thread has so far implied that anyone with tinnitus wanting to get a dog (or have a baby, in fact) is stupid - including the people who upvoted the comment. Yet so many with tinnitus have dogs and are fine.

It didn't spike it because that tinnitus was a controlled type. I aggravated my ears with loud sounds for years while having tinnitus lol.

Doh.

 

[Forever hopeful]

Put your partner out with the fucking dog. I can't believe you adopted a mobile alarm with raging tinnitus. That takes brains. He's surprised a dog barks… next thing he will be shocked that babies cry.

What is wrong with you? No need to be rude. Perhaps you could take your anger to another venue like therapy.

 

[tpj]

Um, WRONG. Concerts are known to cause ear ringing to People with NORMAL EARS/HEARING. The loud noise is also 100+ dB and sustained for a much longer period of time.

I know how a dog bark can spike tinnitus and cause ear pain but your comparison is ridiculous.

I think you're wrong. It's a dog. It can bark at any time, for any reason, catching you completely of guard.

Ludvik already said in his post that the barking caused a huge spike, despite him wearing earmuffs.

People can do whatever the fuck they want and take whatever risk they want but then they have to live with the consequences.

 

[Brian P]

What is wrong with you? No need to be rude. Perhaps you could take your anger to another venue like therapy.

Therapy costs too much!

 

[PeteJ]

I think you're wrong. It's a dog. It can bark at any time, for any reason, catching you completely of guard.

Ludvik already said in his post that the barking caused a huge spike, despite him wearing earmuffs.

People can do whatever the fuck they want and take whatever risk they want but then they have to live with the consequences.

He should throw the muffs in the garbage then.

I have Peltor muffs that fit like clamps or a vise. Any bark would be extremely muffled. The problem is, wearing them before a bark or noise - you need to be able to anticipate the noise. Decent muffs aren't good to wear too frequently.

If his dog is barking frequently, then yeah, very likely to spike reactive tinnitus. But, I think concerts bring more dangerous consequences including more hearing loss, spikes, worsened tinnitus - there's posts here about that.

He could also look into a muzzle for the dog - one that allows drinking water - but, what might prevent barking. Take it off after a while and if the dog barks, "NO!" and put it on again. If the dog reacts to things without barking - then lots of praise and treats.

I know barks can really bother the ears and lead to spikes but I still think attending loud concerts and sports events - as these are usually at least 2 hours in duration - are more risky.

 

[tpj]

He should throw the muffs in the garbage then.

I have Peltor muffs that fit like clamps or a vise. Any bark would be extremely muffled. The problem is, wearing them before a bark or noise - you need to be able to anticipate the noise. Decent muffs aren't good to wear too frequently.

If his dog is barking frequently, then yeah, very likely to spike reactive tinnitus. But, I think concerts bring more dangerous consequences including more hearing loss, spikes, worsened tinnitus - there's posts here about that.

He could also look into a muzzle for the dog - one that allows drinking water - but, what might prevent barking. Take it off after a while and if the dog barks, "NO!" and put it on again. If the dog reacts to things without barking - then lots of praise and treats.

I know barks can really bother the ears and lead to spikes but I still think attending loud concerts and sports events - as these are usually at least 2 hours in duration - are more risky.

Would you say the Peltor brand is the best? Are they comfortable to wear?

 

[GeorgeLG]

I think that there are two different things going on here. The first is learning how to manage your condition and learning what's OK and what needs to be avoided or protected. Only you can decide if a dog is worth it enough to have to use your time and energy managing the impact on your hearing. I am 66 years old with cancer so I don't have much energy for managing things that can make my life more miserable and are optional so I would not get a dog, even though I like them and have had them before. We have enough involuntary stuff we need to manage. That said I am not you and I don't know how important this is to you or how hard it is to manage. You will get plenty of advice here about hearing protection, training the dog, avoidance, etc so I won't get into all that.

The other is your relationship. There are many levels of commitment and levels of seriousness in a relationship. Some are just fun, pretty casual, probably temporary, ... Not too big of a deal, probably going to change at some anyhow. The opposite end of the spectrum is a total commitment that you want to be life long. That's a entirely different "animal". If you want to be happy and know real love and commitment then it needs two people that put the other person first and have a complete commitment to the health and well being of their partner/spouse. If one wants a dog and both will be healthy and happy then great. If one wants a dog and the other person is going to suffer then the relationship may have issues with priorities and commitment. My wife developed a massive skin melanoma problem and doctors told her that she could never be outside in the direct sun again between 10 am and 4 pm. Everything we did was outside in Florida, our entire life. She cried and said I'm sorry sweetie because I am ruining your life. I told her oh no your not because all I want is to keep you safe and spend time with you and we will figure out new things to do inside together, it didn't matter what we chose. I just wanted to be together. We have up golfing, boating, gardening, shooting, etc. She always did the same for me, always. Any sacrifice to be together and support each other.

No judgement on your situation but you do need to decide what's important to you in a relationship and what type of commitment you need to be healthy happy and safe. I feel like your asking both of those questions here and only you can really answer them. Be honest with yourself about those core issues and your answers will come.

George

 

[PeteJ]

Would you say the Peltor brand is the best? Are they comfortable to wear?

Lots of people like them. They were too tight for me but I got more used to them. I can't wear them for very long or my ear hurts. They muffle sound really well though. I keep them near me in case the fire alarm is triggered.

 

[GeorgeLG]

Lots of people like them. They were too tight for me but I got more used to them. I can't wear them for very long or my ear hurts. They muffle sound really well though. I keep them near me in case the fire alarm is triggered.

I have a few different versions. The 105 gives the best protection and the 98 is the most comfortable.

George

 

[Freerunner]

Now when I walked on the street just removed my earplug for a second and a dog barked next to me, maybe 1 meter away. It was a big one and my ear started ringing and it is muffed a lot now. Any chance it improves or am I unlucky once again...

 

[PeteJ]

Now when I walked on the street just removed my earplug for a second and a dog barked next to me, maybe 1 meter away. It was a big one and my ear started ringing and it is muffed a lot now. Any chance it improves or am I unlucky once again...

I would guess it will improve.

This stuff happens to me, a lot, not just dog barks. Cars, car braking, ambulances and other sudden, random noises.

I think dog barks often result in spikes and for some (like myself), ear pain, but it goes back to baseline and the pain subsides, eventually.

With that said, I live in a noisy area and some noises which probably worsened my tinnitus - I can't say with certainty, which specific noises did so.

I really doubt any were dog barks, though.

 

[Freerunner]

The problem is that I have hyperacusis as well which is kind of bad. This situation is continuing for more than a week now. After an hour my ear was ok for a while then it went back deafened a little. I am not sure what is happening exactly but since I am dealing with this for quite a short time is mentally exhausting. I am constantly in fear.

 

[GeorgeLG]

Put your partner out with the fucking dog. I can't believe you adopted a mobile alarm with raging tinnitus. That takes brains. He's surprised a dog barks… next thing he will be shocked that babies cry.

How does this help the OP? Whose inner turmoil is being addressed with comments like this? I would not have a dog either but the OP is suffering and reaching out for help and often chronic health conditions come with strain on relationships - it's part of the tragedy for many people... You don't have a dog but yet you still suffer so I am sure that we might not agree with all of your choices but I would still try to help you if I could.

You don't know anything about the people posting on this site, some of them may be quite desperate. Such harsh criticism could result it real harm to someone suffering as you are. You sound like a hard ass and that's fine, I grew up in a big city and had to be tough but not everybody is built like that.

Let's try to help one another. All the best brother. I hope you find relief.

George

 

[Freerunner]

@PeteJ, did you ever had spikes from dogs barking? How much time does it take to subside?

Since the incident, I feel my ear is deafened by around 30 percent and I cannot unblock it by yawning and so on. My tinnitus is much more severe on the right ear which experienced the noise.

I am starting to worry that I lost hearing on this ear and the spike will be permanent.

 

[Freerunner]

@Ludvik, did a dog bark make your tinnitus more severe and for how long usually? Do you have your ears muffed for several days after? I have mine now muffed for a whole day and the tinnitus has increased in volume and intensity.

 

[Freerunner]

Update - No change for a whole day now. The right ear is still affected. The hissing got pretty louder (to the extend I could barely get 3 hours sleep with pink noise and air conditioner on) and still muffed. It is pretty different from my baseline which is in the left year. Both ears used to sound the same before the incident. I wonder If this is hearing loss, since I have never experienced a clogged ear for so long. It feels different then clogged, because if it was it was going to be fine for a moment or two at least. That is not happening though.

Do you think I should visit a doctor so I can be tested and take corticosteroids eventually? Are they going to interfere badly with my health ? I am taking Grandaxin and Atarax at the moment.

Guys, any advice is more than welcome!

 

[lightning]

I think it's a pretty big red flag that a dog you guys just got somehow has priority over you in the relationship.

 

[Hidde]

Hi @Ludvik -- I feel for you and your difficult situation. The first thought"about possible relief was about "debarking", a devocalization surgery I heard about many years ago, though know very little about. I just ran across the following article, which might give you some insights and/or ideas. All the Best...

ALTERNATIVES TO DEBARKING SURGERY

Wow that's insane, better to re-home the dog then imo.

 

[Exit]

Update - No change for a whole day now. The right ear is still affected. The hissing got pretty louder (to the extend I could barely get 3 hours sleep with pink noise and air conditioner on) and still muffed. It is pretty different from my baseline which is in the left year. Both ears used to sound the same before the incident. I wonder If this is hearing loss, since I have never experienced a clogged ear for so long. It feels different then clogged, because if it was it was going to be fine for a moment or two at least. That is not happening though.

Do you think I should visit a doctor so I can be tested and take corticosteroids eventually? Are they going to interfere badly with my health ? I am taking Grandaxin and Atarax at the moment.

Guys, any advice is more than welcome!

I think you should take Prednisone ASAP since it's been like this for days. Sounds like a trauma.

I don't know your health issues and medications, but for a normal person Prednisone is okay.

 

[PeteJ]

@PeteJ, did you ever had spikes from dogs barking? How much time does it take to subside?

Since the incident, I feel my ear is deafened by around 30 percent and I cannot unblock it by yawning and so on. My tinnitus is much more severe on the right ear which experienced the noise.

I am starting to worry that I lost hearing on this ear and the spike will be permanent.

Yes, I have had spikes last for several days, from barks, car engine brakes squealing or screeching, loud car horns, sirens - those are a few loud sounds that have caused ear problems - ear pain, tinnitus, ear fullness or really uncomfortable and aggravating feelings in the ear.

But, I don't recall a permanent worsening from a dog bark. Everyone's ears are different but I wouldn't suspect it will worsen from the dog bark. A spike, pain in or around the ear, yes, that's definitely possible - it's happened to me. Dog barks are sudden, usually brief acoustic traumas unless you stay near a dog that is barking continuously.

Usually, small dogs have worse barks as they are usually, high frequency, high pitched, piercing sounds.

I doubt your hearing was permanently damaged but it can wreak havoc on previously affected ears. Try to anticipate subsequent loud noise and wear soft ear plugs.