Doctors in China are warning that prolonged exposure to loud cicada sounds during summer could lead to hearing loss, cautioning that many people mistakenly believe natural sounds are harmless.
Dr Li Ji, deputy chief physician at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, said the hospital treats multiple cases of hearing damage linked to cicada noise every summer.
He explained that while cicada chirping may sound pleasant, it is a form of high-frequency noise that can damage the delicate hair cells inside the inner ear. Once these cells are permanently damaged, hearing cannot be restored.
One patient, an 18-year-old student surnamed Yang, developed hearing problems after spending four hours camping in a forest surrounded by loud cicada calls without wearing hearing protection. Later that evening, he experienced a blocked sensation in his ears and struggled to hear high-pitched sounds such as birds chirping and mobile phone notifications.
Hearing tests confirmed that Yang had suffered noise-induced high-frequency hearing loss. After receiving medication, his hearing largely recovered.
In another case, a 60-year-old landscaper surnamed Liu developed long-term hearing problems after working in wooded areas for 12 years. From June to August each year, he spent entire workdays pruning trees while being continuously exposed to loud cicada choruses.
Doctors diagnosed Liu with noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss after he complained of persistent high-pitched ringing in his ears and difficulty hearing women’s voices and quiet conversations.
According to Dr Li, short-term exposure to loud cicada noise may only cause temporary swelling of the inner ear’s hair cells, which can recover with prompt treatment. However, prolonged exposure over many years can permanently destroy these cells, leaving hearing aids as the only option to improve hearing.
He explained that cicada sounds typically fall within the 3,000 to 8,000Hz high-frequency range, directly affecting the cochlea’s most vulnerable hearing cells. While a single cicada produces about 70 decibels, the combined sound of large groups can exceed 85 decibels, the level generally considered the threshold for prolonged safe exposure.
Doctors advise people to avoid staying in densely wooded areas for extended periods between 10am and 4pm, when cicada activity is at its peak. Those who need to remain in forests should wear hearing protection and avoid standing directly beneath trees filled with cicadas for long periods.
Anyone who experiences blocked ears, ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing high-pitched sounds should leave the noisy environment immediately and seek a hearing assessment if symptoms persist for more than three days. Children and people with existing hearing problems are advised to take extra precautions.
