Tinnitus Spikes from Opening Soda Cans?

[Jaysterk]

Something that I've noticed is not talked about on here (I searched the forums on here), is whether or not people are getting spikes/damage from opening soda cans or any type of carbonated drink cans for that matter.

Ever since I got tinnitus and hyperacusis from Neomycin 2 years ago, I've opened all my cans with earmuffs on. Particularly because I assumed that this might cause a potential setback.

Two days ago, I had a guest over and this guest decided to open a can of soda a few feet from me while I was not wearing earmuffs. It sounded loud to me but it did not cause any immediate spikes. The next day I did feel like my left ear (the ear that was towards the soda can pop) had a spike. This has remained for 2 days and now it seems to be settling down but not completely as of yet.

I decided to recreate the sound with my earmuffs on and my dB meter and the soda can pop generates a 88 to 95 decibel "pop".

I am hesitant to conclude that this level of exposures would cause any permanent damage but I would like to hear from other people on here. I much rather not protect every time I am opening a can of soda.

Thoughts?

 

[Rajin]

Yes it is loud and I usually ask someone to open if for me while I stick my finger in my ears. That's why I buy only bottles now. You can buy small bottles of soda.

But your spike will go away, it was just a quick pop. I had worse and it went away after a few days. My co-worker slapped on the side of my work van, next to my ears. His fucking hand was like a sledge hammer. I asked why did you do that. He said oh make sure you wake-up before I walk up on you. Seriously man, people do stuff. We live in a loud world. But they don't know better.

 

[Jaysterk]

Yes it is loud and I usually ask someone to open if for me while I stick my finger in my ears. That's why I buy only bottles now. You can buy small bottles of soda.

But your spike will go away, it was just a quick pop. I had worse and it went away after a few days. My co-worker slapped on the side of my work van, next to my ears. His fucking hand was like a sledge hammer. I asked why did you do that. He said oh make sure you wake-up before I walk up on you. Seriously man, people do stuff. We live in a loud world. But they don't know better.

Yea that's what I thought as well. This is probably the first soda can pop I was around in 2 years where I was uncovered. I wonder if 90 to 95 decibels is enough to cause damage however, I've been measuring a lot of "sounds" in the last two years with my dB meter (it's fun) and almost everything is around 85 to 95 dB.

And yes people don't know any better.

 

[Rajin]

wonder if 90 to 95 decibels is enough to cause damage

It can't cause damage if it was just a pop that lasted a few seconds. How long have you had tinnitus?

 

[kingsfan]

I always plug my ears or put on muffs before opening any soda can or bottle. I have checked on my Apple Watch and opening a can is like 95 dBA.

 

[Jaysterk]

It can't cause damage if it was just a pop that lasted a few seconds. How long have you had tinnitus?

Two years. I didn't think it could. I have hyperacusis however. Different intensities in both ears. So I just figured because I have hyperacusis it could cause damage.

I much rather not protect for things like a bottle pop but I'm very cautious.

 

[linearb]

No, this never caused me any issues even when I was at my worst.

You won't be able to capture the actual peak from a short impulse without a fairly decent dB meter, but it looks to me like at ~2", it can be a momentary impulse if ~120 dB, but incredibly briefly. Unless you are opening cans right next to your ears all day I wouldn't be worried about it; at ~32" or whatever arm's length is, that 120 dB turns into something a lot less, as well.

 

[kingsfan]

No, this never caused me any issues even when I was at my worst.

You won't be able to capture the actual peak from a short impulse without a fairly decent dB meter, but it looks to me like at ~2", it can be a momentary impulse if ~120 dB, but incredibly briefly. Unless you are opening cans right next to your ears all day I wouldn't be worried about it; at ~32" or whatever arm's length is, that 120 dB turns into something a lot less, as well.

What about a metal shelf leg falling over on a laminate floor? I know that isn't very descriptive, but would that just be a short impulse that is unlikely to do any harm or is it great since it's more mass than a small soda tab?

 

[linearb]

What about a metal shelf leg falling over on a laminate floor? I know that isn't very descriptive, but would that just be a short impulse that is unlikely to do any harm or is it great since it's more mass than a small soda tab?

That would be my guess; I've been around some catastrophic crashes. Kids and clumsiness will do that.

On the other hand stuff like pounding on a metal spike with a sledgehammer or large hammer can probably be more damaging because you get into "loud as a gunshot" territory.

 

[kingsfan]

That would be my guess; I've been around some catastrophic crashes. Kids and clumsiness will do that.

On the other hand stuff like pounding on a metal spike with a sledgehammer or large hammer can probably be more damaging because you get into "loud as a gunshot" territory.

Did any of those catastrophes cause temporary spikes? Trying to put the pieces together as what might have happened to my tinnitus over the weekend. Each day has so many factors though.

 

[linearb]

Did any of those catastrophes cause temporary spikes? Trying to put the pieces together as what might have happened to my tinnitus over the weekend. Each day has so many factors though.

I don't think so, I don't really get spikes anymore that are based on specific events, unless it's something like "ow that noise was actually super too loud and made my ear ring out for a minute".

The first 5 years after my worsening was a lot bumpier and then things settled down.

Sometimes I feel like my tinnitus is worse on nights after I've been doing lawnmower or motorcycle stuff, but I protect the hell out of my ears and all that stuff causes neck strain that also gives me problems.

 

[iGL0CK]

The first 5 years after my worsening was a lot bumpier and then things settled down.

Wow, it's really nice to know even after 5 years your hyperacusis can settle. I am almost 3 years after minor worsening (and a few setbacks during this time). Thanks for that, really.

 

[Forever hopeful]

It has never even occurred to me to block my ears when opening a soda can. I would never have assumed it would cause a noise that loud. But I also do not have hyperacusis.