Chronic Ear Fullness from Sound Exposures Under 80 dB

[Jaysterk]

I wanted to share something that keeps happening to my ear in response to various sound exposures:

I have tinnitus in both Ears. Left ear is much worse than the right. The pitch is very prominent during the day. The pitch in the right ear can only be heard in the dead of night.

I have hyperacusis in both ears. The left ear is a bit worse than the right ear.

I have TTTS in my left ear only.

So in other words my left ear is much worse than my right ear. The issue is, when I am exposed to sounds that I don't believe can damage my ear any further, my right ear (good ear) gets "FULL" for lack of a better word. For a while, I thought I had ETD (which I might very well have), but after experiencing this many many times in the past few months, I've come to the conclusion that something else is at work.

Some of the sounds that give me this, "Fullness" feeling are people laughing loudly near me, my cell phone playing a music video at full volume for a split second, dropping a soap in the shower, a home fire alarm going off in the next room while I was showering, and most recently a friend speaking loudly inside the car while I was driving. The first time I experienced this issue was months back when a firework went off two city blocks away from my house and i heard it from inside my room (my window was open).

Every time I am exposed to sounds at these levels (which some I do not think can cause any damage), after a few minutes, my ear gets full for about 24 to 48 hours. Never any longer. It always subsides and the fullness goes away. Sometimes along with the fullness, I get a bit of sound distortion, especially to my own voice. When I am having this sound distortion, yawning always corrects it for a while until it comes back again. Opening my yaw wide and holding for a few seconds makes the fullness go away for about half a minute and in the mornings I always wake up without the fullness.

Has anyone experienced this before? Does anyone have any idea what's going on with my right ear. Keep in mind these sounds I explained above don't seem to spike my very sensitive bad ear.

What gives?

 

[RishRamsey]

That's TTTS I think. I have that too, for the exact same sounds you mentioned and some other. I try to protect myself from sounds above 60dB, so don't experience it much, but of course, it's definitely there. I think it's pretty common for someone with hyperacusis.

Even water flowing on full while filling up my bucket for a bath (stopped taking showers as they were too loud), can cause it.

 

[Jaysterk]

That's TTTS I think. I have that too, for the exact same sounds you mentioned and some other. I try to protect myself from sounds above 60dB, so don't experience it much, but of course, it's definitely there. I think it's pretty common for someone with hyperacusis.

Even water flowing on full while filling up my bucket for a bath (stopped taking showers as they were too loud), can cause it.

I think you have mentioned this before in a post. I remember the running water quote.

TBH as annoying as the fullness is, what bothers me the most is whether or not these sounds under 85dB are actually causing damage.

To me it seems like the ear is contracting itself in a type of defense mechanism.

 

[Jaysterk]

That's TTTS I think. I have that too, for the exact same sounds you mentioned and some other. I try to protect myself from sounds above 60dB, so don't experience it much, but of course, it's definitely there. I think it's pretty common for someone with hyperacusis.

Even water flowing on full while filling up my bucket for a bath (stopped taking showers as they were too loud), can cause it.

Do you experience it in both ears?

 

[RishRamsey]

Do you experience it in both ears?

Yes. Not at once tho. Sometimes in one, sometimes another.

 

[RishRamsey]

I think you have mentioned this before in a post. I remember the running water quote.

TBH as annoying as the fullness is, what bothers me the most is whether or not these sounds under 85dB are actually causing damage.

To me it seems like the ear is contracting itself in a type of defense mechanism.

TBH, I am not really worried about these sounds as they are in my control (other than the fire alarm) but really really worried about the sounds in the real world (especially traffic and construction) which is pretty common in my country. I take precautions like ear plugs, but still, they are way too loud and far too common. If only I could go and live in a quiet little town :/

 

[Gabriel]

I think you have mentioned this before in a post. I remember the running water quote.

TBH as annoying as the fullness is, what bothers me the most is whether or not these sounds under 85dB are actually causing damage.

To me it seems like the ear is contracting itself in a type of defense mechanism.

After reading your first post I thought I had a hint, but after reading this I am quite convinced.

I think you are just experiencing an acoustic reflex.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_reflex

And the threshold is around 70-80 dB as you mentioned. But yours stay quite some time. Which might be psychosomatic, because you are so sensitive to noise that your body actually over adapted.

Just my theory.

 

[Jaysterk]

Do you experience it in both ears?

No! Which I find weird. My bad ear which has moderate to severe hyperacusis and TTTS does not get full EVER. All the things that make the right ear get "full" does nothing to my bad left ear.

 

[Jaysterk]

TBH, I am not really worried about these sounds as they are in my control (other than the fire alarm) but really really worried about the sounds in the real world (especially traffic and construction) which is pretty common in my country. I take precautions like ear plugs, but still, they are way too loud and far too common. If only I could go and live in a quiet little town :/

Lucky for me the fire alarm went off on the next room while I was in the shower. I hope that was enough to prevent damage. l of course covered my ears Immediately.

 

[Jaysterk]

After reading your first post I thought I had a hint, but after reading this I am quite convinced.

I think you are just experiencing an acoustic reflex.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acoustic_reflex

And the threshold is around 70-80 dB as you mentioned. But yours stay quite some time. Which might be psychosomatic, because you are so sensitive to noise that your body actually over adapted.

Just my theory.

TBH I think this is very likely and was my second thought after ETD.

 

[Candy]

Yes I have always had that fullness before tinnitus when exposed to a thud, bang etc.

 

[Jaysterk]

Hopefully someone can help.

For context:

I have had tinnitus and hyperacusis (now mild) in my left ear for about 15 months.

I have had tinnitus and hyperacusis (now moderate) in my right ear (good ear, symptom free for 11 months) for about 4 months.

They both act completely different in terms of spikes, pitch and spikes.

My right jaw clicks, every time I open my jaw (I can hear it in my ear. P.S I clench).

Every time I swallow, both ears click but the right one clicks significantly louder.

My right nostril is always clogged and I mean 90% of the day.

My right ear clogs in reaction to moderately louder sounds, the left ear does not.

When I touch my right eye, my right inner ear twitches, which does not happen with the left ear.

When I talk, I can hear buzzing in my right ear. Almost like an echo of my own voice. Very subtle though.


About two weeks ago, I moved into a new place. New place is amazing, I cannot hear my tinnitus for the most part while inside my now apartment for some reason. However, the day after I moved in, my right ear started to "feel weird", "weak sensation" when I talk too loud. This went on for about a week. About 7 days ago, a metal door was slammed shut by the wind (outdoors). I was a few feet away and it produced 93 dB with my right ear facing the door. That night my right ear had the "clogged feeling". I was able to unclog it by yawning, maneuvering my jaw and grabbing my ear lobe and rotating it. However, it will "clog" up again in a few seconds.

Unfortunately, 3 days ago while at a store picking up an item, someone bumped into a wooden flip up counter door and it produced a very loud sound. I was maybe 12 feet away. Again my right ear was facing that direction. My right immediately made that high pitch sound we get when something is too loud. It subsided a few seconds later. By that evening, my right ear was "clogged" and just felt "injured".

It has been 3 days and my ear is still "clogged" for most of the day. It's a weird sensation, it's almost like I can "feel my inner ear" all day. The only thing that gives me relief is yawning which seems to somewhat "unclog" the ear. Apart from that, every little sound, no matter how small seems to make my right ear "twitch". This was not happening a few weeks ago. I even caught my right ear twitching in anticipation to a sound I believed was going to happen but didn't.

I would take Prednisone but the thing is I just got off it 10 days ago (10 days of 40mg with 10 days of cutting down).

I want to say that the noise trauma from the doors have caused the issue but I've had "clogged" right ear in the past 6 months (even before I developed tinnitus in my right ear), in reaction to sounds such that are well under 85 dB. It would usually last a few days at most and be gone. Now it seems to be permanent. The more I talk, the worse my right ear feels. It "closes up" and feels bothered.

The tinnitus in my right ear remains unchanged even after all this. It has not spiked or changed tones.

 

[ajc]

Hopefully someone can help.

For context:

I have had tinnitus and hyperacusis (now mild) in my left ear for about 15 months.

I have had tinnitus and hyperacusis (now moderate) in my right ear (good ear, symptom free for 11 months) for about 4 months.

They both act completely different in terms of spikes, pitch and spikes.

My right jaw clicks, every time I open my jaw (I can hear it in my ear. P.S I clench).

Every time I swallow, both ears click but the right one clicks significantly louder.

My right nostril is always clogged and I mean 90% of the day.

My right ear clogs in reaction to moderately louder sounds, the left ear does not.

When I touch my right eye, my right inner ear twitches, which does not happen with the left ear.

When I talk, I can hear buzzing in my right ear. Almost like an echo of my own voice. Very subtle though.


About two weeks ago, I moved into a new place. New place is amazing, I cannot hear my tinnitus for the most part while inside my now apartment for some reason. However, the day after I moved in, my right ear started to "feel weird", "weak sensation" when I talk too loud. This went on for about a week. About 7 days ago, a metal door was slammed shut by the wind (outdoors). I was a few feet away and it produced 93 dB with my right ear facing the door. That night my right ear had the "clogged feeling". I was able to unclog it by yawning, maneuvering my jaw and grabbing my ear lobe and rotating it. However, it will "clog" up again in a few seconds.

Unfortunately, 3 days ago while at a store picking up an item, someone bumped into a wooden flip up counter door and it produced a very loud sound. I was maybe 12 feet away. Again my right ear was facing that direction. My right immediately made that high pitch sound we get when something is too loud. It subsided a few seconds later. By that evening, my right ear was "clogged" and just felt "injured".

It has been 3 days and my ear is still "clogged" for most of the day. It's a weird sensation, it's almost like I can "feel my inner ear" all day. The only thing that gives me relief is yawning which seems to somewhat "unclog" the ear. Apart from that, every little sound, no matter how small seems to make my right ear "twitch". This was not happening a few weeks ago. I even caught my right ear twitching in anticipation to a sound I believed was going to happen but didn't.

I would take Prednisone but the thing is I just got off it 10 days ago (10 days of 40mg with 10 days of cutting down).

I want to say that the noise trauma from the doors have caused the issue but I've had "clogged" right ear in the past 6 months (even before I developed tinnitus in my right ear), in reaction to sounds such that are well under 85 dB. It would usually last a few days at most and be gone. Now it seems to be permanent. The more I talk, the worse my right ear feels. It "closes up" and feels bothered.

The tinnitus in my right ear remains unchanged even after all this. It has not spiked or changed tones.

Such events leading to ears getting clogged is not normal. You need to have a thorough evaluation by an ENT.

That said I also think you suffer from mild paranoia and hypochondriac traits. I read your post history and you've thought your ears have been harmed by noises not even 80 decibels loud. Maybe the clogged feeling is produced from your fears or maybe it's not really happening? I don't mean to offend you, just concerned.

 

[Jaysterk]

Such events leading to ears getting clogged is not normal. You need to have a thorough evaluation by an ENT.

That said I also think you suffer from mild paranoia and hypochondriac traits. I read your post history and you've thought your ears have been harmed by noises not even 80 decibels loud. Maybe the clogged feeling is produced from your fears or maybe it's not really happening? I don't mean to offend you, just concerned.

The post you are referring to was measured with a phone dB meter. I purchased a professional one and it remeasured to 105 dB.

ENT told me to take an antihistamine and get my jaw looked at by a dentist.

I've had my hyperacusis measured at 60 dB. Hence why something in the 80s range "hurts" my ears.

 

[GoatSheep]

My right jaw clicks, every time I open my jaw (I can hear it in my ear. P.S I clench).

Every time I swallow, both ears click but the right one clicks significantly louder.

My right ear clogs in reaction to moderately louder sounds, the left ear does not.

When I touch my right eye, my right inner ear twitches, which does not happen with the left ear.

When I talk, I can hear buzzing in my right ear. Almost like an echo of my own voice. Very subtle though.

I also have clicking in my right jaw periodically. Didn't before tinnitus. Left jaw feels a pressure like feeling. I do wear a mouthguard and did before tinnitus, but like to say no clicking just sleep bruxism previously.

My ears both clicked and popped constantly after developing tinnitus, hyperacusis and TTTS for a long time. I also had patulous Eustachian tune like symptoms that occasionally still pop up. My ears still click and have pressurization issues to this day, but they aren't quite as bad.

My ears clog in reaction to sounds under 80db in certain cases too (mostly my right ear). Mainly, if I try to listen to music within a few songs I'm guaranteed to get ear fullness and then at least a mild volume spike or short duration within an hour of the fullness starting. I attribute this to the broader frequency range I'm exposed to with music and some frequencies irritating my ears.

I actually also have the fluttering sensation when touching my right eye. It does not happen to my left eye. However, in October 2019 I had a middle fossa craniotomy to remove an inner auditory canal osteoma hoping it would help improve or eliminate my tinnitus. I can only definitively say I've had this symptom since the surgery so I have attributed it to the surgery. I also get the fluttering in that ear if I rub around certain parts of my ear like on the back side behind the lobule.

When I get the fullness sensation or I have stuffiness from allergies I now get that buzzing sensation when speaking very mildly at times. Never had this before tinnitus and hyperacusis either.

 

[Jaysterk]

I also have clicking in my right jaw periodically. Didn't before tinnitus. Left jaw feels a pressure like feeling. I do wear a mouthguard and did before tinnitus, but like to say no clicking just sleep bruxism previously.

My ears both clicked and popped constantly after developing tinnitus, hyperacusis and TTTS for a long time. I also had patulous Eustachian tune like symptoms that occasionally still pop up. My ears still click and have pressurization issues to this day, but they aren't quite as bad.

My ears clog in reaction to sounds under 80db in certain cases too (mostly my right ear). Mainly, if I try to listen to music within a few songs I'm guaranteed to get ear fullness and then at least a mild volume spike or short duration within an hour of the fullness starting. I attribute this to the broader frequency range I'm exposed to with music and some frequencies irritating my ears.

I actually also have the fluttering sensation when touching my right eye. It does not happen to my left eye. However, in October 2019 I had a middle fossa craniotomy to remove an inner auditory canal osteoma hoping it would help improve or eliminate my tinnitus. I can only definitively say I've had this symptom since the surgery so I have attributed it to the surgery. I also get the fluttering in that ear if I rub around certain parts of my ear like on the back side behind the lobule.

When I get the fullness sensation or I have stuffiness from allergies I now get that buzzing sensation when speaking very mildly at times. Never had this before tinnitus and hyperacusis either.

Sounds like we have the same symptoms pretty much.

 

[Forever hopeful]

I have ear fullness and pain in my left ear only. It does not react to sound however, but it is so annoying. It comes and goes throughout the day.

At first I wondered if it was hearing loss related but I have very, very mild hearing loss in that ear and should not cause that so ENT thinks it is my jaw and some ETD. I started Flonase and hope it helps.

 

[Brian Newman]

The post you are referring to was measured with a phone dB meter. I purchased a professional one and it remeasured to 105 dB.

ENT told me to take an antihistamine and get my jaw looked at by a dentist.

I've had my hyperacusis measured at 60 dB. Hence why something in the 80s range "hurts" my ears.

Did you find out what it was? I'm having the same symptoms, but without the jaw problem. I have constant sound distortion, hyperacusis and tinnitus which I have had for years. The hyperacusis and distortions came on from lifting heavy weight.