I recently came across an interesting study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that suggests there is a correlation between residential traffic-related noise and an increased risk of tinnitus. I’m excited to share some insights from this study with you as well as some tips for protecting your hearing for years to come.

The study involved 4.1 million Danish residents aged 30 years and up. Of those participating in the study, 40,692 had been diagnosed with tinnitus. To conduct the study, researchers replicated noise from road traffic and railways in the most and least exposed areas between 1990 and 2017. The researchers calculated the one, five, and 10-year time-weighted mean noise exposure to determine whether or not a correlation existed.

The researchers did find a positive association between exposure to traffic noise and an increased risk of tinnitus; however, no correlation was found between railway noise and tinnitus. According to the researchers’ findings, individuals with the highest estimated risks include women, those without hearing loss, people with high education and income, and those who had never worked a blue-collar job.

This quote from Jesper Hvass Schmidt, Ph.D., especially stood out to me: “There is a need for more focus on the importance of traffic noise for health. It is alarming that noise seems to increase the risk of tinnitus, cardiovascular diseases, and dementia, among other diseases.” The risk of tinnitus should be taken into consideration by urban planners and politicians.

How Can You Protect Yourself from Tinnitus?

When it comes to protecting your ears from tinnitus, prevention is crucial. Always protect your ears from loud noises when possible, especially above the 85-decibel limit.

If you live in an urban area or near a busy street with significant traffic noise, sleep in a room that does not face the street if possible, or consider using earplugs. Although this may not be an option for everyone, installing soundproof windows can be effective.

If you’re a regular concert-goer, invest in a pair of earplugs that will block out the damaging decibels while still allowing you to enjoy the music. If you work in an industry that requires you to be around loud sounds regularly, quality over-the-ear headphones offer great protection against hearing damage and permanent tinnitus. And when you’re listening to music with headphones, consider turning down the volume.

How Pacific Hearing Inc Can Support You

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for tinnitus since it’s not actually an illness—it’s a symptom of other hearing-related issues, like noise damage and aging.