Dog barking cannot cause tinnitus, but it can spike it. The intensity and duration of the spike vary from person to person and barking loudness.
Some people say their tinnitus spikes when they hear a single loud bark/howl from 1 meter. For others, dog barking may only spike tinnitus when they are close to their dog.
The tinnitus spike returns to normal after some time. The time varies from person to person and how worse your condition is. A Tinnitus spike caused by loud dog barks usually takes a day or two to settle down. You must not worry about it, as stress makes it worse.
Key Takeaways
Dog barking cannot cause tinnitus but can trigger a spike. The duration and intensity of the spike varies from person to person, as well as barking loudness.
The best way to stop tinnitus spike due to barking is to use anti-barking devices or call animal control services if your neighbor’s dog barks excessively.
How can Tinnitus Patients avoid Spikes due to Dog Barking?
There are several ways you can reduce tinnitus spikes due to dog barking. It will take time and effort, but the results are worth the hassle. Here are a few tips to help you out.
Train your Dog
Dogs are extremely obedient pets. You can make them anything you want. Many people have trained their dogs to stay quiet and only bark when they see an intruder or sense danger. You can teach them the “quiet command.” It takes some time and may not guarantee 100% results, but it can help you limit tinnitus spike intensity by reducing excessive barking.
Use Stop-Barking Devices
You can use pet training devices to instantly stop your dog from barking, scratching, or jumping. These devices produce an ultrasonic sound that only cats and dogs can hear. People suffering from tinnitus can use these devices to avoid spikes.
Make your Dog Comfortable
Dogs bark excessively when hungry, angry, frustrated, bored, or unhealthy. You can eliminate excessive barking by taking care of your canine’s needs.
Reward your dog for staying Quiet
Reward your dog when it stays quiet and obeys your command. This is known as positive reinforcement. A reward at the right time makes your dog differentiate between right and wrong behavior.
Call 911 or Animal Control
Excessive and loud barking is a nuisance for neighbors and people with medical conditions. Luckily, there are laws throughout the country that govern excessive dog barking. The dog owners can be penalized, and the authorities can also impound the dogs if the owner doesn’t solve the problem.
However, talking with your neighbors about their dog barking is better before you involve authorities.
Tinnitus Symptoms
Tinnitus is a hearing problem characterized by hearing sounds from inside your body rather than outside sources. Tinnitus is often described as the ringing sound in the ear, but patients may hear other sounds too. The common symptoms include.
- Clicking
- Buzzing
- Roaring
- Hissing
- Humming
Tinnitus is subjective and different people hear different voices. The noises can be limited to one hear or another, and the intensity/duration of noises may also vary. Tinnitus may last for some minutes, hours, or days.
What Causes Tinnitus?
- Ear Infection
- Hearing Loss
- Head and Neck Injuries
- Drugs/Medications
Related Guide: Can Dog Barking Trigger Misophonia?
Preventive Measures for Tinnitus
- Use of Hearing Protections
- Keep Volume Low
- Live a Healthy Life
- Limit the Consumption of Alcohol, Caffeine, and Nicotine
Can Dog Barking Damage your Ears?
Exposure to noise above 70-80 decibels for more than 8 hours a day can damage your ears. However, dogs usually don’t bark for such a long time. Hence, pet owners won’t suffer hearing damage from only barking dogs. On the contrary, people working in kennels, dog groomers, and caretakers must use hearing protection as they could be at risk.
