Can a vacuum cleaner cause hearing loss.

[LuckyPanda1]

Hello there . This is my first post on here but not my first time in a tinnitus forum so I know how much anxiety a person with T can have. Right now I am living in an anxious state and wanted to seek some reassurance. Today I had to use a vacuum cleaner which was really loud(seemingly even louder than normal ones). I used for around 20 seconds. My question is: could it have caused hearing loss? Also I have been living in fear that I have perforated my eardrums( have none of the listed symptoms besides tinnitus but I have had it for quite a while before the event that gave birth to that fear happened) and wanted to ask if that would make them more vulnerable than normal?

[Happyrosie]

On the British tinnitus Association website, put “loud noise” into search box and then in FAQ there’s a lot of detail about noise, volume and length of time you’re exposed to it. So that’s the science.

But, I can’t think a vacuum cleaner would or else they would have been banned.

But I’m concerned about your mention of perforated eardrum. I don’t quite follow from what you say what might have caused this or whether this happened before or after the noise event, but if you are having a medical problem then I’d say a discussion with your doctor and an examination is indicated.

[LuckyPanda1 in reply to Happyrosie]

About the perforated eardrum: about 2 weeks ago I put on a pair of headphones and it blasted a loud sound in my ears for a second because i forgot to check the sound volume. I was concerned if it had done something to my ears but there weren't any symptoms of something being wrong and ultimately decided not to go to the doctor but since then I haven't managed to shake off the anxiety of something potentially not being allright with my ears . I mentioned it in the post because I wanted to know if potentially my eardrum had been perforated whether it would have made my ear more vulnerable to loud sounds since on the internet it only said that a perforated ear drum makes the ear more vulnerable to ear infections but nothing else.

[rabbits65 in reply to LuckyPanda1]

As you are so concerned ask your doctor to refer you to the ENT clinic or maybe to Audiology . Good luck 😊

[Happyrosie]

LuckyPanda, I agree with rabbits. We on this forum don’t know enough to help you.

[doglover1973]

Hi LuckyPanda1 I doubt vacuum cleaners can cause hearing loss - not in 20 seconds anyway. They're not loud enough. The average noise output is 70 - 80 decibels. The problem with T - as you say - is it makes you anxious. Try to do things that diffuse the anxiety - if possible .

[TinnitusUKPat Partner]

60 to 70 dB is unlikely to cause lasting damage, especially not after 20 seconds exposure time. A person would have to have their ear next to the vacuum cleaner for hours at a time, without breaks, for it to begin to cause problems.

The figures on sudden noise exposure and damage have to be taken in context - loud noise is one issue. The time of exposure, the environment that a person is in and the distance from the source of noise are all things to be considered.

Reacting to the possibility of something being wrong without any confirmation that you have a problem to respond to is not good for your wellbeing.

[NaiveGreen]

Please be careful.

You should see ENT as other said.

That being said, I'll share my PoV.

I bought certified sound level measure device - which says that 80db is LOUD (this checks with audiology-web.s3.amazonaws.... )

85dB yeah, right - i have T from much quieter sound. I think it's because that high pitched tones were in it. I don't have perforated eardrums ( and I hope and believe that you neither - but see ENT) - but T is very different beast.

Long exposure to not so loud music aggravates my T to the point of physical pain. I close one ear with hand when I dry hairs on the same side of my head with second one - and it helps.

What I'm trying to say:

- that I don't have hear loss based on our current medical diagnosis procedure - but I do have T. I hope we will be able to better diagnose T in the future.

- I try not to put 'safe levels' for T in the same basket as for hear loss.

- sound itself is complicated - it's my hobby/work - I know that my device measures only spectrum which we can hear - It can show 60dB and it will be still dangerous because high pitch isn't accounted for.

if vacuum cleaner bothers you - i would use sound blockers.

[daverussell]

I use earplugs when using a vacuum cleaner, due to noise sensitivity and subsequent spikes with T.

[Suz_2]

hi - I used vacuum cleaner on a hard floor stair hallway - this was end Nov 21 -I was wearing earplugs and ear defenders - after that my tinnitus worsened - I think the vibration from the vacuum (because of contact through hand and arm ) could have caused this change in the T as well