Am I More Susceptible to Further Hearing Damage Compared to Someone without Hearing Loss?

[Sayon]

Hi everyone,

I had a random question pop into my head and was wondering if anyone might have an answer. I recently experienced some acoustic trauma that caused hearing loss at high frequencies (around 10k+ Hz) in my left ear, along with the development of tinnitus.

As a result, I'm curious, am I now more susceptible to further hearing damage compared to someone without hearing loss? Specifically, would I have a lower threshold for tolerable dB levels? I understand that sounds around 85 dB or higher can be damaging to anyone's ears, but could someone with existing hearing damage, like me, be at risk of further harm at even lower dB levels?

I've noticed that loud noises can temporarily increase my tinnitus and make my ears feel more sensitive. Is this just a symptom of tinnitus, or could it indicate that these sounds are actually causing more damage?

I tried searching the forums for similar questions, but I couldn't find anything specifically related to dB levels in cases like mine. Apologies if this has already been covered in a previous thread, and thanks for any insights!

 

[Nick47]

I've noticed that loud noises can temporarily increase my tinnitus and make my ears feel more sensitive. Is this just a symptom of tinnitus, or could it indicate that these sounds are actually causing more damage?

The honest answer is that nobody really knows, and that's the truth.

Unless you're under 20, high-frequency hearing loss beyond 8 kHz is common. Age, noise exposure, and genetics have had over 20 years to contribute to it.

When I first developed tinnitus, I wanted a high-frequency hearing test. But I realized it was a waste of time because:

1. I will inevitably have high-frequency hearing loss.
2. I don't have any prior test results for comparison.
3. Hearing aids are ineffective at high frequencies.
4. Knowing my tinnitus frequency doesn't impact current treatment options.
5. It won't affect future treatment options, either.

I also have reactive tinnitus, so I don't experience residual inhibition.

 

[ZFire]

It's all relative.

 

[Jupiterman]

There's often confusion between hearing damage and tinnitus damage.

If your tinnitus is reactive, as it seems to be, you may experience worsened tinnitus from noise exposure, even if it doesn't damage your hearing.

The safest approach is to protect your ears more diligently than someone without tinnitus or hearing issues would.

Ultimately, how much you protect your hearing and the risks you choose to take are up to you. Remember, you'll be the one living with the consequences—not those who offered advice.

 

[LondonEars]

I think I'm in the same boat as you. Just a few minutes of exposure to loud music (when I should have been wearing earplugs) has, one week later, left me with bad tinnitus, reduced hearing (even though my test results are similar to previous ones), and the fear that it may never go away. Prednisolone is helping; I'm on Day 3 of 5, but the tinnitus returns in the mornings. I find some hope in the fact that the tinnitus eases when the steroid is at its peak in my system, which makes me think it could be part of an inflammatory response.

Whatever happens, I'm going to be even more protective of my ears from now on. It's just not worth the risk. I consider myself as having "brittle ears," the way some people have brittle bones.

 

[momus]

People with tinnitus are naturally more aware of any changes in their hearing. They should be particularly cautious about exposing themselves to anything that could worsen their hearing or tinnitus, such as stress, high altitudes, flying, and certain medications. It's quite a lengthy list, but it's a list I'd want to avoid even if I didn't have tinnitus.

 

[Notreve7766]

Hello,

I don't believe people with existing hearing damage are necessarily more or less susceptible, but this is something best confirmed with an ENT specialist.

Let me use an analogy to explain. Imagine your nervous system as a primitive monkey living inside you, one that has a certain fear of this tinnitus noise you hear. This "monkey" wants to keep listening, constantly monitoring for any changes. When external noise increases, the monkey tries even harder to listen, which can make your perception of tinnitus louder. Many people describe their tinnitus as "competing" with external sounds, and this is one reason why you're often advised to play background sounds just slightly below the volume of your tinnitus.

In response to your question, the increased perception of tinnitus and heightened ear sensitivity are most likely due to over-monitoring by this "monkey" and not related to further damage.

I hope this helps!

 

[Jupiterman]

I don't believe people with existing hearing damage are necessarily more or less susceptible, but this is something best confirmed with an ENT specialist.

I could not disagree with this statement more.

 

[Notreve7766]

It's probably best for an expert to provide their opinion. Logically, it doesn't feel right to me that some people would be more or less susceptible than others, but I'm not an expert.

 

[Jupiterman]

It's probably best for an expert to provide their opinion. Logically, it doesn't feel right to me that some people would be more or less susceptible than others, but I'm not an expert.

If someone had a severe leg fracture, would you really need a doctor to confirm that their leg is more susceptible to damage than someone who hasn't broken their leg?

 

[Notreve7766]

If someone had a severe leg fracture, would you really need a doctor to confirm that their leg is more susceptible to damage than someone who hasn't broken their leg?

You're comparing hearing loss to a leg fracture, but these are not the same. The hearing system isn't like a bone breaking. I don't think it's as straightforward as you suggest, and I believe people should remain open-minded to the possibility that they can continue living as they did before a hearing loss event.

I respect your point of view and recognize that I may be wrong, but I think it's important to let readers form their own opinions. I would encourage everyone to seek advice from a professional first. This is a relatively simple question that an audiologist or ENT specialist can address on a case-by-case basis. I wouldn't want anyone to take actions based solely on what @Notreve7766 or @Jupiterman said.

 

[HighleyTall]

Hi everyone,

I had a random question pop into my head and was wondering if anyone might have an answer. I recently experienced some acoustic trauma that caused hearing loss at high frequencies (around 10k+ Hz) in my left ear, along with the development of tinnitus.

As a result, I'm curious, am I now more susceptible to further hearing damage compared to someone without hearing loss? Specifically, would I have a lower threshold for tolerable dB levels? I understand that sounds around 85 dB or higher can be damaging to anyone's ears, but could someone with existing hearing damage, like me, be at risk of further harm at even lower dB levels?

I've noticed that loud noises can temporarily increase my tinnitus and make my ears feel more sensitive. Is this just a symptom of tinnitus, or could it indicate that these sounds are actually causing more damage?

I tried searching the forums for similar questions, but I couldn't find anything specifically related to dB levels in cases like mine. Apologies if this has already been covered in a previous thread, and thanks for any insights!

After reading the work of Megan Beers Wood and reflecting on my own experiences, I would say yes. Why take the risk?

 

[momus]

The idea of the "monkey" is interesting, but that's not quite how it works. Everyone's experience with tinnitus varies—some a little, some a lot—and knowing the exact cause doesn't necessarily lead to a solution.

Generally, people with tinnitus are already on high alert to avoid further ear damage. However, avoiding loud noises isn't always possible, and there are times when we can't reach our destination without flying. This is just the reality of living with tinnitus.

Since none of us want to make things worse, we're extremely cautious about situations that could lead to more irreversible damage. It's similar to the wake-up call someone gets after a heart attack or a stroke. These events force you to recognize the need to change your life… or risk not having it much longer.

 

[Notreve7766]

Hi @momus,

This is definitely an interesting topic.

I approach it from the perspective that the best way to recover from tinnitus is to make it as irrelevant as possible. The best way to do that, in my view, is to continue living your life as you would have before. Of course, the big caveat here is that even before tinnitus, I would have recommended people avoid loud places, and for musicians to wear ear protection, etc.

I think that once you start wearing ear protection at parties, you may be giving tinnitus too much negative attention, which can lead to over-monitoring.

This advice is only for managing tinnitus, though. Hyperacusis presents different challenges, which I don't have experience with.

 

[Nick47]

I think that once you start wearing ear protection at parties, you may be giving tinnitus too much negative attention, which can lead to over-monitoring.

This advice is only for managing tinnitus, though. Hyperacusis presents different challenges, which I don't have experience with.

I followed a similar path. After 6.5 years, one loud gym class changed everything for me. I hadn't worn hearing protection in the environments you mentioned, nor did I monitor my tinnitus. Since you're new here, I suggest reading more broadly. Notice how many members join, habituate, carry on 'as normal,' then return years later in distress and confusion.

 

[object16]

From my experience, tinnitus spikes become more frequent, debilitating, and prolonged over time. Many well-meaning people, probably correct in their own situations, advise me to use ear protection only when necessary. There's a top audiologist in Holland, Michigan, who agrees with me: the level of protection needs to be appropriate. He's supported things I've unfortunately learned the hard way, like how blocking your ear canal during sleep is one of the worst things you can do.

In my case, I can't risk sudden, unexpected noise exposure, even if it's less than a second, because something in my hearing seems to be easily injured. I don't believe it's worth taking the chance to find out how much my ears can tolerate. At work, I play the radio all day, and I listen to music all night to help mask sounds. I've tried various things, like isoflavones and novel cannabinoids, doing what "research" I can on myself since I don't have access to other research methods. I've noticed that my tolerance for "normal" sounds, like 70 dB, has improved. I find that I ask people to speak more quietly less often now, though normal speaking levels still bother me.

For now, I feel that what I'm doing at least isn't making things worse. I typically wear noise-canceling headphones when I'm in the car or shopping and avoid loud sounds, like lawnmowers, whenever possible. I think most people would agree that we only have a limited number of hair cells in the ear. The most sensitive cells are probably the first to go, making things seem quieter and giving us less awareness of how loud things actually are.

Sound intensity and exposure time both matter, and time, unfortunately, can't be reversed. So, my personal advice is to use appropriate protection and even invest in a dB meter that measures both dBA and dBC levels. The dBC scale captures sounds that may not seem loud but are more harmful, especially from sources like subwoofers. We didn't used to encounter these as often, but dBZ scales now even measure subsonic frequencies that we only perceive as a "thud." This low-frequency, high-energy noise is very damaging, and if you can feel it, it's likely harming your hearing—best to get away fast.

 

[ZFire]

He's supported things I've unfortunately learned the hard way, like how blocking your ear canal during sleep is one of the worst things you can do.

Can you elaborate more on this?

For me, tinnitus and hyperacusis (now recovered) turned me into a light sleeper.

I sleep with earplugs every day as a result now, and that has helped me sleep better. I don't wake up from any startling noise (outdoor noise) thanks to the earplugs.

 

[object16]

Can you elaborate more on this?

For me, tinnitus and hyperacusis (now recovered) turned me into a light sleeper.

I sleep with earplugs every day as a result now, and that has helped me sleep better. I don't wake up from any startling noise (outdoor noise) thanks to the earplugs.

Yes, sleeping with hearing protection can be tempting. I discussed this with an audiologist in Holland, Michigan, who's consistently voted the best in his field. Here's my experience: years ago, my hearing was deteriorating, and I thought protecting it was the right thing to do. When I asked an ENT, they said protection was good. Being a medical doctor, I had been trained to think critically, and something felt off, but I continued to protect my ears. This led to a severe case of hyperacusis.

With the help of the internet, I eventually connected with this audiologist, which might be about 20 years ago now. I don't have literature to back this up—just my deductions and conversations with someone who truly knows his field. As a light sleeper, I initially thought everything was fine, but it eventually became a problem. The body has feedback mechanisms, and overprotection interferes with them.

I recommend reaching out to other knowledgeable individuals on this site. There's an active expert here; you could ask the moderator about them; it might be @Michael Leigh. My approach to sleep involves using a digital file of rain sounds. My daughter edited an eight-hour rain track to remove quiet parts, creating a consistent sound. She also edited some of my favorite Enya songs to compress the dynamic range, so I have a steady musical soundtrack with minimal variation. This setup—a FLAC player looping eight hours of rain and peaceful music—allows me to sleep well. I keep the volume at about 60 dB, which is safe, and adjust the treble and bass to ensure low frequencies are attenuated.

I don't recommend sleeping with hearing protection. It led to my current condition, and I don't want you to go through the same. If your tinnitus is mild enough to allow you to sleep with protection, that's a good sign, but I strongly urge you to consult others for more guidance.

For me, my overprotection has made sleeping with any protection impossible since 2004. If my hearing worsened further, I'd be ready to consider serious measures. While I work full-time and have come to terms with my condition, the idea of relief, even through chronic leukemia, feels like an eventual end to the suffering.

I'm lucky to now own a quiet home. Six years ago, I had to move from my previous house because of outside noise, which affected my sleep to the point of feeling I couldn't go on. If relocation isn't an option for you, some compromise may be necessary. But if you're managing with mild tinnitus, you're in a much better place than I was.

 

[trevl]

The answer is yes. You are more susceptible. However, you haven't provided specific details about the acoustic trauma you experienced. Almost all sounds are complex in nature. Unless your trauma was caused by prolonged exposure to a pure tone, it's likely that you were exposed to a variety of frequencies, each with differing levels of harmful effects.

A simple example would be analyzing the spectrum of a sound, such as dropping a tablespoon into a china bowl. Using a spectrum analyzer app on your phone, you'd see that the sound is mostly high frequencies, but not a pure tone. Similarly, the high frequencies of the sound that caused your trauma likely damaged your high-frequency hearing cells, leading to the 10kHz tinnitus you now experience.

It's also probable that a range of lower-frequency hearing cells were damaged as well, since the sound was likely complex rather than a pure tone. This may mean you don't hear lower frequency ranges as clearly, which could lead to a tendency to get closer to sounds or increase their volume to hear them better. Unfortunately, this behavior can cause further damage to those remaining hearing cells.

When loud noises exacerbate your tinnitus, it suggests your tinnitus is reactive. If your ears are sensitive to sounds, this indicates hyperacusis as well, meaning additional ear cells have been damaged. Damaged ear cells do not regenerate; you're left with what you have.

You need to exercise extreme caution. Consider wearing earplugs as part of your daily routine, as further exposure to loud noises is likely to worsen the damage. Over time, more cells may be completely destroyed, causing your tinnitus to broaden. You could begin to notice additional white noise, more tones, gravelly tinnitus, or an increase in volume. It's important to have no illusions; your tinnitus can get worse.

High-frequency tinnitus is particularly challenging because it cannot be effectively masked. Most natural or soothing sounds don't come close to matching these frequencies. Attempting to mask it often results in listening to both external sounds and your tinnitus simultaneously, which can feel overwhelming.

This is especially difficult if your tinnitus is unilateral (occurring in one ear), as it typically indicates that one ear has sustained more damage than the other.

 

[Nick47]

My approach to sleep involves using a digital file of rain sounds

@object16, what if your tinnitus reacts to certain sounds and spikes in intensity? For example, mine doubles in volume when exposed to sounds like fans, kettles, and rain.