Bass Exposure at a Festival Leading to Reactive Tinnitus — My Recovery Progress

[plantenspuit]

Hello,

I previously had tinnitus for about three days, but it was nothing compared to what I am experiencing now.

On 01/09/2024, I attended a local festival. I sat at a table outside, at what I thought was a safe distance from the speakers. When the music started, it was not loud at all until the bass kicked in. At the first bass shockwaves, I heard a crackling sound in my ear, maybe something like barotrauma. I stayed for about 15 minutes, much too long, I know.

That day and night, I had no symptoms at all. I think it started the next day when I began feeling a little weird and dizzy. Then, I noticed that music sounded slightly muffled. The muffled sound and dizziness disappeared the following day.

However, over the next three months, I experienced:

• Multiple steady loud tones in both ears (4000Hz, 6000Hz, 8000Hz), clearly audible above everything else
• A fluctuating high pitched tone in my right ear (14000Hz)
• Non maskable tones, except under the shower
• Ear fullness / aural fullness
• Reactive tinnitus, even soft rain would make it spike
• Moderate hyperacusis, requiring ear protection in shopping malls and sometimes at work when there was too much talking
• Somatic tinnitus
• Crackling sounds when swallowing
• Loudness shift (difficulty hearing soft sounds)

Every two to three weeks, I noticed slight improvements, less reactivity, lower tinnitus volume, and reduced ear fullness. After about two months, I started taking magnesium and Ginkgo biloba. I cannot say for sure, but my tinnitus seemed slightly quieter after taking them.

My symptoms now have improved significantly:

• A high pitched static sound (around 12000Hz) in both ears, still noticeable outside but not above heavy traffic
• A fluctuating high pitched tone in my right ear (14000Hz), but softer
• Tones are easier to mask
• Reactive tinnitus, but the volume drops faster after sound exposure
• Mild hyperacusis, no ear protection needed
• Somatic tinnitus
• Crackling sounds when swallowing
• No hearing above 10000Hz (left ear) and 13000Hz (right ear) (Previously, I could hear up to around 14000Hz in both ears, I am 42 years old)

With the way things are progressing, I hope that one day I can post my success story.

Reading this forum has made me realize that tinnitus can be lifelong but thankfully not always. It gave me hope and helped me stay sane. I hope my story does the same for someone else. Wishing you strength.

 

[GSC]

Remember ear fullness is a clear sign of your ears being raw and damaged, but I'm glad you're improving. Please just remember you have damaged your ears and do not ignore the signal your ears give you going forward!