An 18-year-old student in eastern China suffered temporary hearing loss after spending several hours in a forest filled with cicadas, highlighting a little-known risk of prolonged exposure to loud natural sounds.
The student, identified only by his surname Wang, was camping in a forest in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, when he was surrounded by the clicking sounds of hundreds of cicadas for several hours. Around midday, the insect chorus grew significantly louder, but Wang remained in the area until evening. By the time the insects began to quiet down, he was experiencing tinnitus and a sensation of fullness in both ears. He realized he could no longer hear birdsong or the notification sounds on his phone.
Alarmed by the sudden hearing loss, Wang sought immediate medical attention at Ningbo University No. 1 Affiliated Hospital. Doctors found that both of his eardrums were swollen. Dr. Li Ji, a senior physician in the otorhinolaryngology department at Ningbo University No. 1 Affiliated Hospital, treated Wang with medication to reduce the swelling and advised him to avoid loud environments for at least two weeks. After two weeks of rest, Wang’s hearing returned to normal.
Dr. Li Ji, a senior physician in the hospital’s otorhinolaryngology department, explained that many people mistakenly assume natural sounds are always safe. While a single cicada typically produces sound levels around 70 decibels — below the threshold for hearing damage — a large chorus can exceed 85 decibels. That is the level at which prolonged exposure can cause hearing damage, according to occupational Health standards.
Dr. Li explained that the hair cells in the cochlea, the spiral-shaped cavity of the inner ear, can develop edema, or swelling, when irritated by intense noise over a relatively short period. In most cases, these cells recover after the person leaves the noisy environment and rests for one to two weeks. However, if the exposure is intense or prolonged enough to kill the hair cells, the damage is permanent and irreversible. Those cells do not regenerate, and the resulting hearing impairment is permanent, requiring hearing aids for auditory assistance.
Wang’s case serves as a reminder that hearing protection is not only necessary at concerts or industrial sites. Health experts advise anyone spending extended time in very loud natural environments, such as cicada swarms, waterfalls, or thunderstorms, to consider using ear protection or limiting exposure time. Wang made a full recovery after two weeks of rest, but doctors emphasize that the outcome could have been permanent if the exposure had been longer or louder.
