Can Hidden Hearing Loss Symptoms Improve Over Time?

[Cloudious]

Hi everyone!

Just to give a brief rundown of my situation, I started experiencing hearing challenges after attending my first rock concert in November without earplugs. Since then, I have had difficulty hearing quieter sounds like footsteps, occasional ear pain, trouble understanding voices when there is background noise from fans or refrigerators, and an inability to process similar sounds at the same time. For example, the sound of rubbing my hands is masked by running water. Consonants like f, p, and v have become harder to distinguish, and music lyrics sound muted and garbled.

In late December, I took a comprehensive hearing test, including pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, speech recognition, QuickSIN, OAE tested up to 12 kHz, acoustic reflex, and UCL. Everything came back normal. My introductory thread goes into more detail about my situation.

Now, nearly three months later, these issues persist, which is really worrying. Since my test results were normal, I suspect I have hidden hearing loss. From what I have researched, there does not seem to be any proven treatment for this aside from possibly auditory therapy, which is not even widely accepted as effective. I have also read about ongoing trials with Cilcare and Rinri, but it is unclear if they will lead to a successful treatment. I am considering getting ABR and ECOG tests to assess my auditory nerves and gain more insight into what is going on.

I cannot believe that one mistake out of pure ignorance might have permanently damaged my ability to enjoy and understand music, as well as have conversations when there is background noise. If only I had known then what I know now.

That being said, is there anything that might at least help ease these issues? If there is no cure, I would still like to find ways to make hearing and appreciating music and speech less of a struggle. Maybe it is just a matter of giving my auditory system time to recover and my brain time to adjust. If that is the case, I am willing to be patient. But if I am missing something, please let me know.

 

[DamagedJoe]

I cannot believe that one mistake out of pure ignorance might have permanently damaged my ability to enjoy and understand music, as well as have conversations when there is background noise. If only I had known then what I know now.

This one, sir! I feel you.

 

[momus]

You should probably avoid loud environments, antibiotics, and anything that increases stress. Keeping a log can help—note whether the problem is worse when you wake up, stays the same, or worsens throughout the day. Later in the day, track any changes. Avoid hard drugs, and while weed isn't classified as a hard drug, it has been associated with increased tinnitus.

Stress reduction might involve certain medications, but everyone has to figure out what works best for them. These forums can be helpful in that process. My advice is to ignore whatever your primary care doctor says about tinnitus and instead see a specialist who has experience with tinnitus patients. This can help rule out possible causes like an infection or dislodged earwax. General practitioners simply don't have the expertise to deal with tinnitus properly.

 

[Cloudious]

You should probably avoid loud environments, antibiotics, and anything that increases stress. Keeping a log can help—note whether the problem is worse when you wake up, stays the same, or worsens throughout the day. Later in the day, track any changes. Avoid hard drugs, and while weed isn't classified as a hard drug, it has been associated with increased tinnitus.

Stress reduction might involve certain medications, but everyone has to figure out what works best for them. These forums can be helpful in that process. My advice is to ignore whatever your primary care doctor says about tinnitus and instead see a specialist who has experience with tinnitus patients. This can help rule out possible causes like an infection or dislodged earwax. General practitioners simply don't have the expertise to deal with tinnitus properly.

Thanks for the reply!

Regarding tinnitus, I haven't had an episode in nearly a week. The initial trauma triggered ringing for a day, but then it stopped, only reappearing for a few seconds every few days. As I'm typing this, the main issue that remains is the distorted hearing.

I suppose stress relief would help with everything I'm experiencing right now. I've been taking Hydroxyzine for the past few weeks, and it has helped me get better sleep each night.

 

[DamagedJoe]

Thanks for the reply!

Regarding tinnitus, I haven't had an episode in nearly a week. The initial trauma triggered ringing for a day, but then it stopped, only reappearing for a few seconds every few days. As I'm typing this, the main issue that remains is the distorted hearing.

I suppose stress relief would help with everything I'm experiencing right now. I've been taking Hydroxyzine for the past few weeks, and it has helped me get better sleep each night.

Man, I really envy you. I don't want to sound ignorant, but I think you've been very lucky that your tinnitus has already settled.

 

[HighleyTall]

"Trouble understanding voices when there is background noise" is a common hyperacusis symptom.

Please stay away from concerts, even with earplugs. As a musician, I used custom-molded earplugs for rehearsals and gigs after an initial sound trauma that caused very mild tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, it worsened over the years. Now, I live like a hermit because nearly every sound has become uncomfortable. I experience loud tinnitus, burning ears 24/7, and daily headaches.

 

[Cloudious]

"Trouble understanding voices when there is background noise" is a common hyperacusis symptom.

Please stay away from concerts, even with earplugs. As a musician, I used custom-molded earplugs for rehearsals and gigs after an initial sound trauma that caused very mild tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, it worsened over the years. Now, I live like a hermit because nearly every sound has become uncomfortable. I experience loud tinnitus, burning ears 24/7, and daily headaches.

@HighleyTall, hello!

First off, I'm sorry to hear what you're going through. I hope your condition improves in the near future.

Thinking about it, this might be a hyperacusis issue. I've noticed that even higher-frequency sounds on my phone seem louder than I remember. If that's the case, maybe I could try enrolling in a sound therapy program to see if it helps.

For clarification, did yours get worse specifically from performing at gigs? Was there ever a moment when you felt it was improving at all?

 

[HighleyTall]

I would stay away from sound therapy—I've been there. Give your ears time to rest. The younger you are, the better your chances of recovery.

I continued playing music for about 10 years after the sound trauma, with only mild tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, in the last year before my condition suddenly escalated, I noticed my hyperacusis was getting worse. Simple activities like visiting restaurants or rehearsing music alone, even at low volumes, became problematic. Then, one day, I woke up in hell.

It has been six years now. I've had some slightly better periods, but overall, my condition is worsening—probably exponentially. Just talking one-on-one in a silent room for 15 minutes increases my symptoms.

 

[Cloudious]

I would stay away from sound therapy—I've been there. Give your ears time to rest. The younger you are, the better your chances of recovery.

I continued playing music for about 10 years after the sound trauma, with only mild tinnitus and hyperacusis. However, in the last year before my condition suddenly escalated, I noticed my hyperacusis was getting worse. Simple activities like visiting restaurants or rehearsing music alone, even at low volumes, became problematic. Then, one day, I woke up in hell.

It has been six years now. I've had some slightly better periods, but overall, my condition is worsening—probably exponentially. Just talking one-on-one in a silent room for 15 minutes increases my symptoms.

I'm definitely going to give my ears as much rest as possible. I figure that, along with maintaining good sleep and a healthy diet, should support any recovery that occurs.

On the topic of sound therapy, what has your experience been with it? I read that it can help desensitize the ears to certain noises, which I imagine could also improve hearing in background noise. Could it potentially make hyperacusis worse?

 

[HighleyTall]

There is no proof that sound therapy works, and there is no way to tell if it does. Most people habituate over time.

I tried Dr. Arnaud Norena's researched custom sound therapy (based on my audiogram) in 2019, but I didn't experience any improvement. If this worked, it would be widely offered as a therapy, but that isn't the case. To me, sound therapy is like a dentist asking a patient with a toothache to bite on a nut with that tooth for several hours a day.

You can't go wrong with good sleep and a healthy diet. Maybe also try a low-histamine diet.

Recent research in mice by Megan Woods shows an increase in synapses in outer hair cells after noise exposure. The number of synapses was highest in the least damaged part of the cochlea. More synapses probably lead to more output, which could explain hyperacusis. Outer hair cells also help control the membrane that filters sound, such as speech in background noise. Because of the imbalance in synapses, this could explain difficulties with hearing in noisy environments. Damage may be repairable, but likely only to some extent.

 

[Cloudious]

Recent research in mice by Megan Woods shows an increase in synapses in outer hair cells after noise exposure. The number of synapses was highest in the least damaged part of the cochlea. More synapses probably lead to more output, which could explain hyperacusis. Outer hair cells also help control the membrane that filters sound, such as speech in background noise. Because of the imbalance in synapses, this could explain difficulties with hearing in noisy environments. Damage may be repairable, but likely only to some extent.

Interesting. Perhaps people who recover experience a gradual rebalancing of synapses over time, which reduces the loudness of background noise and other sounds.

Or maybe the brain simply adapts to the changes in the ear and recalibrates its central processing.

 

[mzrach03]

I have similar symptoms from an acoustic trauma six weeks ago. I'm starting sound therapy with Treble Health.

Look up their success stories on YouTube—they can be inspiring and give you hope. I truly believe this condition can improve, and avoiding or overprotecting from sound is not the answer.

 

[Cloudious]

I have similar symptoms from an acoustic trauma six weeks ago. I'm starting sound therapy with Treble Health.

Look up their success stories on YouTube—they can be inspiring and give you hope. I truly believe this condition can improve, and avoiding or overprotecting from sound is not the answer.

I haven't heard of Treble Health, but I'll look them up. Let me know how your program goes.

 

[mzrach03]

I haven't heard of Treble Health, but I'll look them up. Let me know how your program goes.

I just started sound therapy—it's day three. I haven't noticed any changes yet, but only time will tell.

I'm also starting CBT next week.