Single loud impulses can instantly tear the eardrum or break ossicles

Evidence

The threshold of pain in hearing is around 130 dB SPL. Sounds louder than this can cause permanent damage to hearing even over short durations. For example, a starting pistol produces a peak sound pressure level of approximately 140 dB SPL, and more hefty weapons produce even louder sounds. A single strong peak in sound pressure can tear the eardrum, break the auditory ossicles, or destroy the structures of the inner ear immediately. An impulse even at a lower level can cause permanent tinnitus. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 2686