And now for something really stupid

Figure. David: H. KirkwoodOne of the pleasanter things about being editor of a journal in the hearing industry is that there really is a lot of good news to report. Unlike daily newspapers and weekly magazines where an awful lot of the big stories are about crime, war, and disasters, most of the developments we cover each month relate to people hearing better. And that's good news. That said, let me tell you about one of the more revolting things to come to my attention recently. It's not part of the hearing industry, but it has implications for anyone who cares about hearing, not to mention safety and sanity. There's a company in Florida called Hornblasters, Inc., that sells customized horns for trucks, cars, and other vehicles that, it claims, can unleash blasts of 152 dB. I was alerted to these products, which were originally meant for use on locomotives, by a reader in Ontario who's concerned that a single exposure to one of these acoustic weapons could have dire effects on people's ears. While I don't recommend it, if you choose to go to the company's web site (www.hornblasters.com), you'll see the type of people buying these things. The site has a series of videos, entitled Terror on the Streets, shot from inside the vehicles of perpetrators. They show hapless victims of all ages being, as the title suggests, terrified and shocked and pained. While the sound track doesn't do justice to the volume of the horns, it gives a pretty fair idea of the character of the users, whose gleeful laughter and, in one case, use of a racial epithet, accompany pictures of people reacting to the attacks. There's also fan mail on the site, including a letter from “Angel in Tampa,” who boasts about scaring people. “The funniest was a school bus full of kids. I blew the horns right next to them and all I heard was screaming.” And “Linda in Washington” gave one to her father because he had been “so upset with life recently.” Now, she writes, “He spends his days driving around town waiting to scare people. It's brought so much joy into his life.” WHAT CAN YOU DO? Why am I writing this? Well, partly to vent. But, more practically, I would urge readers to be alert to the existence of Hornblaster-equipped vehicles in your communities. Although the company is based in Florida, it sells to people all over via the Internet. Plus, the web site lists close to 50 dealers in 11 states who offer the horns. So, wherever you practice, there may be cause for concern. Among those concerned is Alex Johnson, PhD, president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. He sent a letter to the local newspaper in Tampa, warning that “the loudness of these horns can cause immediate hearing loss, tinnitus, and other health problems, not to mention the accidents that could happen when unsuspecting drivers are startled by the blast of these devices.” Unfortunately, his letter was not published. The Tampa Tribune did run an article early this year that took a rather light-hearted view of the horns, which it said were “an inexplicably hot trend.” But the good news was that local policemen quoted in the article said that this “hot trend” violates state law in Florida, which bars horns that “emit an unusually loud or harsh sound or whistle.” The penalty is a fine of less than $100, but if police enforced the law vigorously, that would probably help considerably. And what can audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and otolaryngologists do if Hornblasters come to your town? Well, for one thing, as experts on hearing and hearing loss, you can send a press release or a letter to your local paper, explaining why these things are a serious menace. Or contact a local radio or TV station and see if someone will interview you or report the story. Again, citing your authority on the subject, inform your local police or other municipal or country officials of the danger and find out if any local, county, or state laws would prohibit the use of train whistles on the street. If so, urge that they be enforced. If not, the town board might be willing to pass one. From my past experience covering small towns, I know this is the kind of issue that citizens are quick to demand action on. So be alert and if any of your town's cretins start blasting horns of this type, be prepared to fight back. Who knows, you might even become a local hero.

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