An 18-year-old man in China experienced temporary hearing loss after spending more than four hours exposed to the loud sound of hundreds of cicadas while camping in a forest, in a case doctors say highlights an overlooked source of noise-related hearing damage.
The teenager, identified by his surname Wang, was camping in Ningbo, in China’s Zhejiang province, when he noticed the cicadas growing particularly loud around midday. He stayed in the forest through the evening, at which point he began experiencing tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in both ears.
Symptoms Escalate as Evening Sets In
As the cicadas’ chirping grew quieter with the changing time of day, Wang realized he could no longer hear them at all. He also found himself struggling to hear birds and even notification sounds from his phone, prompting concern that something was seriously wrong.
Teen Seeks Emergency Treatment
Worried he might lose his hearing permanently, Wang went to the hospital for treatment. Doctors found that both of his ears were swollen and prescribed medication to reduce the inflammation, advising him to avoid loud noise exposure for at least 14 days. His hearing returned to normal after roughly two weeks.
Just How Loud Can Cicadas Get?
Dr. Li Ji, a senior physician in the ear, nose, and throat department at Ningbo University No. 1 Affiliated Hospital, said many people assume that natural sounds can’t damage hearing — but cicadas complicate that assumption.
While a single cicada typically produces sound well below levels considered harmful, cicadas are among the loudest insects in the world, and the combined noise of a large group can climb significantly higher.
According to Dr. Li, a large cicada population can generate sound exceeding 85 decibels — a threshold at which prolonged exposure can pose a real risk to hearing.
Why Loud Noise Can Damage Hearing
Dr. Li explained that extended exposure to loud sound can cause swelling, or oedema, in the delicate hair cells inside the cochlea. These cells can often recover once a person leaves the noisy environment and gives their ears one to two weeks of rest, as happened in Wang’s case.
However, more severe or prolonged exposure can permanently damage or destroy these hair cells. Unlike many other cells in the body, cochlear hair cells do not regenerate once destroyed, meaning permanent damage can result in lasting hearing impairment and, in some cases, the need for hearing aids.
Doctors say the case is a useful reminder that prolonged exposure to loud sound — even sound that occurs naturally outdoors — can carry real risks to hearing health.
