Prolonged Exposure to a Voiced Fire Alarm

[Jenny_S]

Hello everyone.
I have looked thoroughly through past posts but can't find an answer or the help I need.

Today I was exposed to a fire alarm at my school in Korea.
However the alarm wasn't a bell but like a tannoy system.

There was a man on the recording who spoke then a short siren. This was repeated until the alarm stopped.

Unfortunately I was exposed to this for over five minutes, possibly ten minutes without ear protection (I usually wear ear plugs but didn't have them in... of all days) and was focused on my students.
I have tried to find a decibel reading for this style of fire alarm to no avail. Has anyone heard of this style of fire alarm and how loud it could be? It honestly didn't seem excessively loud but my left ear has a mild dull pain.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

 

[Contrast]

This is very serious, to prevent permanent damage please rest your ears for a good few months, No head phones or loud noise.

You have pain hyperacusis, indicating your inner ear is damaged.
https://www.ata.org/news/news/hyperacusis-related-damage-nerve-cells-inner-ear

Take magnesium, see if you could get a predisone steroid, take a week off of work.
you don't want this to become life long since the inner ear is a fragile organ that doesn't repair well.

 

[Julien87]

Hello Jenny,
Did it sound very loud from where you were standing? Did it cover your voice? Or was it approximately at the same level?

 

[Jenny_S]

Hi @Contrast
Thank you for your reply and advice.
I already do most of the things you suggest (not used headphones since initial onset of T almost three years ago, avoid loud places, use ear plugs, take magnesium, I'm leaving teaching at the end of Feb for peace and quiet) and will carry on. A bit reluctant about Prednisone after looking at people's negative reactions from it on Tinnitus Talks.

Also you confirmed what I was unsure about-pain hyperacusis. Unfortunately this all stems from a trip to the ENT last September. It isn't the first time I have experienced this kind of pain so can I ask, with every noise incident my ear reacts in this way, will it cause further damage or is it just the reaction my ear makes? Sorry to ask but I am unclear.

 

[Contrast]

Hi @Contrast
Thank you for your reply and advice.
I already do most of the things you suggest (not used headphones since initial onset of T almost three years ago, avoid loud places, use ear plugs, take magnesium, I'm leaving teaching at the end of Feb for peace and quiet) and will carry on. A bit reluctant about Prednisone after looking at people's negative reactions from it on Tinnitus Talks.

Also you confirmed what I was unsure about-pain hyperacusis. Unfortunately this all stems from a trip to the ENT last September. It isn't the first time I have experienced this kind of pain so can I ask, with every noise incident my ear reacts in this way, will it cause further damage or is it just the reaction my ear makes? Sorry to ask but I am unclear.

Be more careful so you don't have more noise incidents.

Are ENT's helpful?

 

[Jenny_S]

Hello @Julien87 ,
Thank you for your quick reply.
To answer your questions, no it didn't seem excessively loud and I do have a slight fear of loud sounds as that is how my tinnitus started. I could talk to and hear my co-workers replies. I could hear my voice too but I cannot answer if it was the same level as my voice. Have you had a similar experience with a loud noise event after your tinnitus onset?

 

[Julien87]

I had a lot of loud noise events actually The loudest one, by far, being a gunshot one meter from me.

I would say it is not a good idea to take prednisone after what happened to you. Maybe magnesium could help though. But in any case, I really think you will be fine. Please keep us updated.

 

[Jenny_S]

@Contrast Unfortunately some things are out of our control and you try your hardest to avoid these situations. Makes you feel worse when they do! Just random, fluke acts that don't affect some people but can cause distress and consequences to others. But I agree with you...I don't want any more noise incidents.

I'm not sure if your question re. ENTs was sarcasm or genuine But if it was the first, I'm hoping I never have to see one again!

 

[Contrast]

Most ENT's are useless when it comes to Noise induced pain.

The best ENT's are the ones at are familiar with research and realize the patient is screwed until said research is advanced.
They push a narrative that TRT is a magic bullet cure as well!

 

[Jenny_S]

@Julien87 And you've lived to tell the tale! A gunshot from one meter away would have caused me a week of stress! I'm just that kind of person!
Thank you for your kind words and I will post with any updates if it helps others in a similar situation.
Have a nice weekend.

 

[Julien87]

I worry a lot too, even for much less than a gunshot
Thank you Jenny, have a nice weekend too

 

[Jenny_S]

@Contrast Well I've never had many options of treatment given to me...not even TRT. Just the usual it may go or you will get used to it. I was offered an M.R.I but that was straight after my onset and know they are ridiculously loud so passed. Here's hoping tinnitus research will see great advancements soon.

 

[gorzakus]

Hello everyone.
I have looked thoroughly through past posts but can't find an answer or the help I need.

Today I was exposed to a fire alarm at my school in Korea.
However the alarm wasn't a bell but like a tannoy system.

There was a man on the recording who spoke then a short siren. This was repeated until the alarm stopped.

Unfortunately I was exposed to this for over five minutes, possibly ten minutes without ear protection (I usually wear ear plugs but didn't have them in... of all days) and was focused on my students.
I have tried to find a decibel reading for this style of fire alarm to no avail. Has anyone heard of this style of fire alarm and how loud it could be? It honestly didn't seem excessively loud but my left ear has a mild dull pain.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

I don't know the laws in Korea but here in Belgium when it's an indoor fire alarm it won't be louder then 85db .
I think the ones with the voice aren't too loud , they just seem very loud because of the high frequency.
The really loud ones are the burglar alarms hanging outside buildings and houses , they easily go up to 115 db.

 

[JuneStar]

I'd get some NAC and mag, even some tumeric to help with any inflamation.

 

[Jenny_S]

@gorzakus Thank you for the information. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any information on fire and safety policies in Korea and don't know if I ever will. The school is very open plan and relatively high ceilings so I wasn't stuck in a tiny room with the alarm. The length of time I was exposed to the alarm is my biggest worry.

 

[Jenny_S]

@JuneStar Thank you for the advice. I have magnesium and turmeric so will take those. I will see if I can get NAC in a pharmacy today.

 

[gorzakus]

@gorzakus Thank you for the information. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find any information on fire and safety policies in Korea and don't know if I ever will. The school is very open plan and relatively high ceilings so I wasn't stuck in a tiny room with the alarm. The length of time I was exposed to the alarm is my biggest worry.

That's good news since the ceilings are high you were further away from the alarm no or were the speakers elsewhere ?
If you want to be sure you can always ask the school since they should know .
If it's louder then 80- 85 db which I doubt then it's not safe for anyone's ears anyway.

 

[Jenny_S]

@gorzakus It really is an unusual fire alarm system in my opinion as it seemed that there were multiple speakers built into the ceiling. I think they are the same speakers that you would find playing music in a shop (to which I have been absolutely fine with). I can ask when I go back to work on Monday but doubt they'll be able to tell me and reluctant to find out. My partner works at the school too and he agreed the recording wasn't extremely loud. Loud, yes, but not very loud.

 

[Jenny_S]

Hello to everyone who replied to my original post and other TT members.

It has been four days since the fire alarm incident and I am having a difficult time.
My tinnitus has not increased ( as yet and I really hope it doesn't) but my left ear is responding to sounds with pain. I believe I have developed pain hyperacusis from the incident.

I am very scared as this has never happened before.
Has anybody experienced this and was it temporary or permanent?
Also any advice on what I should steps I should take?
I am wearing ear plugs at school and have my ear mufflers if the fire alarm should go off again but I am aware by wearing ear plugs all the time (like in my house), my ears can become over sensitive.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.