Tinnitus can affect anyone; however, older people are usually affected more than children. If a child does have tinnitus, it's possible that he or she might not be bothered by the condition as much as an adult, simply because children tend accept the condition as the norm, not knowing anything different.
Kids and adults alike can suffer hearing damage and loss, though, and are at risk for tinnitus as well, if they are consistently exposed to very loud noises. You'll know if you're at risk if you need to shout to be heard (like at most concerts or bars and discos, but also at sporting events) or if your ears actually hurt.
How many of us haven't experienced that "muted" hearing phenomenon after leaving a rock concert?
Although a one-time exposure to loud noise does not necessarily cause tinnitus, it's certainly possible that the cumulative damage from even short-lived incidents of loud noise exposure over the years can be quite serious. A comparison of noise intensity shows how loud things are and whether they can cause damage:
- A typical conversation occurs at 60 dB -- not loud enough to cause damage.
- A bulldozer that is idling (note that this is idling, not actively bulldozing) is loud enough at 85 dB that it can cause permanent damage after only 1 work day (8 hours).
- When listening to music on earphones at a standard volume level 5, the sound generated reaches a level of 100 dB, loud enough to cause permanent damage after just 15 minutes per day.
- A clap of thunder from a nearby storm (120 dB) or a gunshot (140-190 dB, depending on the weapon), can both cause immediate damage.
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