Hi,
I'm new to this forum. Here is my background: I am 38 years old, in my childhood I played occasionally with firecrackers and my ears was temporary ringing. Further, as a teenager I hunted without ear protection, also causing temporary ringing and in particular my left ear. Very stupid indeed
At the age of 18-20 I experienced a very mild tinnitus I think, and my left ear felt more sensitive to certain sounds. After that I have used ear muffs during hunting and ear plugs at concerts (with few exeptions for the latter).
One year ago I used an music ear plug with filter at a rock concert, and I felt some discomfort due to the high sound. Little bit muffed feeling afterwards, I thought it was due to bad quality of the plugs. After weeks or months I recovered back to my mild "baseline" tinnitus.
Three weeks ago I went to a rock concert with good quality music earplugs with filter (SNR 16db). Despite the ear plugs I felt some discomfort, in particular my left ear. Unfortunately I was trusting the ear plugs and did not move further away from the sound. After this concert I have had a much stronger ringing, in particular on my left ear, also the sensitivity towards certain sounds are worse. It's like it is ringing at higher frequency in addition to the ringing I had before. After reading about SNR db I understand that 16db was too low protection for this rock concert.
I am seeing the doctor first coming week to get an ENT appointment. I find it easy to describe the tinnitus. My mild «baseline» tinnitus at both ears, being there for c. 20 years, is lower frequency. But after the last concert I've got a much louder and higher frequency tinnitus in addition, in particular the left ear (closer to the sound of cicadas, although not so pulsating).
What I find difficult to explain is the feeling in the left ear (been like that c. 10-20 years, but now worse). Certain sounds are a kind of painful, e.g. bird call, tapping water, ignition of gas oven or crushing potato ship bag, which gives a split second distorted sound. A bit similar to water in the ear, giving a popping or 'plopping' feeling, almost like a frequent tapping on my eardrum (although only for split second...).
To sum up, my mild low frequency tinnitus + distorted sound at the left ear has been there for almost 20 years, now recently it became much worse after a concert. The high frequency ringing and more sensitivity to certain sounds it's a bit similar to the feeling I got in my ears during childhood when I was swimming under water (both in terms of the muffled feeling and the ringing).
Since it is about three weeks since the concert I suspect that I have brought the tinnitus to new level and that I will not recover. It so frustrating since I used ear protection.
Regards Kes
I'm new to this forum. Here is my background: I am 38 years old, in my childhood I played occasionally with firecrackers and my ears was temporary ringing. Further, as a teenager I hunted without ear protection, also causing temporary ringing and in particular my left ear. Very stupid indeed
At the age of 18-20 I experienced a very mild tinnitus I think, and my left ear felt more sensitive to certain sounds. After that I have used ear muffs during hunting and ear plugs at concerts (with few exeptions for the latter).
One year ago I used an music ear plug with filter at a rock concert, and I felt some discomfort due to the high sound. Little bit muffed feeling afterwards, I thought it was due to bad quality of the plugs. After weeks or months I recovered back to my mild "baseline" tinnitus.
Three weeks ago I went to a rock concert with good quality music earplugs with filter (SNR 16db). Despite the ear plugs I felt some discomfort, in particular my left ear. Unfortunately I was trusting the ear plugs and did not move further away from the sound. After this concert I have had a much stronger ringing, in particular on my left ear, also the sensitivity towards certain sounds are worse. It's like it is ringing at higher frequency in addition to the ringing I had before. After reading about SNR db I understand that 16db was too low protection for this rock concert.
I am seeing the doctor first coming week to get an ENT appointment. I find it easy to describe the tinnitus. My mild «baseline» tinnitus at both ears, being there for c. 20 years, is lower frequency. But after the last concert I've got a much louder and higher frequency tinnitus in addition, in particular the left ear (closer to the sound of cicadas, although not so pulsating).
What I find difficult to explain is the feeling in the left ear (been like that c. 10-20 years, but now worse). Certain sounds are a kind of painful, e.g. bird call, tapping water, ignition of gas oven or crushing potato ship bag, which gives a split second distorted sound. A bit similar to water in the ear, giving a popping or 'plopping' feeling, almost like a frequent tapping on my eardrum (although only for split second...).
To sum up, my mild low frequency tinnitus + distorted sound at the left ear has been there for almost 20 years, now recently it became much worse after a concert. The high frequency ringing and more sensitivity to certain sounds it's a bit similar to the feeling I got in my ears during childhood when I was swimming under water (both in terms of the muffled feeling and the ringing).
Since it is about three weeks since the concert I suspect that I have brought the tinnitus to new level and that I will not recover. It so frustrating since I used ear protection.
Regards Kes
Member
