While we are on duty our adrenaline levels are up and are higher during responses. Depending on the incident that we are at, our adrenaline levels can be even higher. This effects our nervous system to a high degree. According to doctors and medical researchers, high levels of stress and adrenaline will cause the autonomic nervous system to stimulate and aggravate Tinnitus. Additionally, loud noises also release more adrenaline causing an exacerbation of Tinnitus.
Fatigue is also a known to cause Tinnitus noise to worsen.
The very nature of a Firefighter's work is fertile ground for the development and worsening of Tinnitus. Those with Tinnitus can often times be in a more irritable mood due to the constant noise that they just cannot get evade. Once a Firefighter is diagnosed with occupationally noise induced Tinnitus and the Firefighter remains on regular duty, Tinnitus is more difficult to treat for obvious reasons. And the Tinnitus will probably get worse. It did for me.