Tinnitus is the condition when a person hears phantom noises that don’t exist. There are many causes of tinnitus. They include ear infections, medications and congenital hearing loss. However, the most common cause of tinnitus is hearing loss as a result of loud noises.

How loud does a noise have to be in order to cause hearing loss and tinnitus?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)  states that noises louder than 85 decibels can cause hearing damage. Furthermore, the longer a person is exposed to this noise, the more likely a person is to suffer hearing loss and tinnitus.

A single bark of a dog from four feet away is as loud as 95 decibels, louder than the

85 decibel limit recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If your dog is closer to you than four feet away, that number could be much higher.

Two dogs together barking would be 3 decibels higher which would total 98 decibels.

The extent to which a loud noise would be dangerous is how much noise over what period of time. A person who is exposed to a barking dog for several hours may suffer from hearing loss and tinnitus.

There are two types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. Conductive hearing loss is physical damage to the ear, such as broken ear bones. Surgery is the best option for this type of damage.

With regard to sensorineural hearing loss, the nerve in the inner ear is damaged. Unfortunately, the only solution is a hearing aid.

Tinnitus is yet another result of nerve damage to the ear. This is a phantom noise that a person hears even when no auditory stimulus is present.

There are two types of tinnitus: objective and subjective. The advantage of objective tinnitus is that it can be measured by an ENT. With subjective tinnitus, however, the severity is based solely on the claim made by the patient.

If you think you may have a loss of hearing, you should be checked by an audiologist. If you hear sounds inside your head, you should make a visit to an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT).

If you are a dog owner, and your dog barks loudly, ask your audiologist or Ear, Nose & Throat specialist (ENT) what you can do to prevent further damage to your ears.