I’m Getting Bad Hyperacusis After Using Earbuds

[AnthonyMcDonald]

So I guess by @Michael Leigh's logic, illnesses and conditions should be super generalized because exact diagnoses are "too complex".

Leukemia? Nah, body cancer.
Fractured collarbone? Body Bone hurty.

Why don't we just have the same treatment for every single condition in existence? (TRT vibes).

 

[Sointu]

I can relate. I made so much progress with my hyperacusis that I became a bit too self-confident, thinking I can use headphones again. I could even use my tinnitus maskers that I did not tolerate in the worst period of my hyperacusis and walk outside a bit without my earplugs so I was thinking I am making a recovery of my hyperacusis. At first I only used the smallest volume of my headphones that I could tolerate for short periods of time (without issues) but then I decided to up the volume a bit. Only a bit. Then last week after listening to music using headphones I got listening fatigue, my reactive tinnitus exploded and I have had a tinnitus/hyperacusis spike since then. I again feel a burning sensation in my right ear and I feel like I am going insane without constant masking of my tinnitus. So it was not worth it. Maybe I would have tolerated the lowest volume but even that is probably not worth the risk of worsening my hyperacusis.

I find it difficult to accept I can´t use headphones because music sounds so much better using headphones. On the other hand, I accept it because I have made so much progress and I can definitely live my life without using headphones.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I find it difficult to accept I can´t use headphones because music sounds so much better using headphones. On the other hand, I accept it because I have made so much progress and I can definitely live my life without using headphones.

I am sorry to know your tinnitus and hyperacusis have spiked using headphones. Unfortunately, this can happen at any time to some people that have noise-induced tinnitus and use headphones, even at low volume, or they are exposed to overly loud sounds.

I am an audiophile and stopped using headphones when they caused my tinnitus and hyperacusis 26 years ago, because I was listening to music at too high a volume without realizing it. If you invest in a good quality Hi-Fi system and set it up correctly, your music will sound much better through speakers than headphones, I assure you. Please click on the link below and read my post: Does Your Hi-Fi System Sing?

Hope you start to feel better soon,
Michael

Does Your Hi-Fi System Sing? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[monnhill]

I can relate. I made so much progress with my hyperacusis that I became a bit too self-confident, thinking I can use headphones again. I could even use my tinnitus maskers that I did not tolerate in the worst period of my hyperacusis and walk outside a bit without my earplugs so I was thinking I am making a recovery of my hyperacusis. At first I only used the smallest volume of my headphones that I could tolerate for short periods of time (without issues) but then I decided to up the volume a bit. Only a bit. Then last week after listening to music using headphones I got listening fatigue, my reactive tinnitus exploded and I have had a tinnitus/hyperacusis spike since then. I again feel a burning sensation in my right ear and I feel like I am going insane without constant masking of my tinnitus. So it was not worth it. Maybe I would have tolerated the lowest volume but even that is probably not worth the risk of worsening my hyperacusis.

I find it difficult to accept I can´t use headphones because music sounds so much better using headphones. On the other hand, I accept it because I have made so much progress and I can definitely live my life without using headphones.

But it kind of seems like reactive tinnitus with hyperacusis or am I hallucinating on the hyperacusis part?

It sounds like there are songs and different musical instruments playing in my ears. And I get some new sound every 2 or 3 days.

Loud noises make it worse. Even a fan on low setting makes it worse.

I don't know if this is typical of hyperacusis or if I'm imagining the hyperacusis by having lots of anxiety over it.

The first week of March it was a bit better, but in the second week of March it got worse.

It is difficult to work or do anything because of the songs and different musical instruments playing in my ears.

 

[Sointu]

But it kind of seems like reactive tinnitus with hyperacusis or am I hallucinating on the hyperacusis part?

It sounds like there are songs and different musical instruments playing in my ears. And I get some new sound every 2 or 3 days.

Loud noises make it worse. Even a fan on low setting makes it worse.

I don't know if this is typical of hyperacusis or if I'm imagining the hyperacusis by having lots of anxiety over it.

The first week of March it was a bit better, but in the second week of March it got worse.

It is difficult to work or do anything because of the songs and different musical instruments playing in my ears.

I have hyperacusis. When it gets worse, my distortions/reactive tinnitus gets worse. When I once described my reactive tinnitus to a doctor, he said it is most likely part of hyperacusis. I hear things such as metallic sound distortions, and sometimes I hear seashell sound or I get a sizzling sound that I hear on top of other sounds. And they really bother my ability to concentrate.

I have had times when I am sensitive to the sound of a fan, but sometimes it does not bother me as much and feels more like it is helping instead of irritating. My hyperacusis changes. Sometimes I have better times with it, sometimes it gets worse.

I had months of better time with it. Then I probably pushed my limits too much, again. The self-confidence just grows and I forget to be careful. I had started to go outside without earplugs more and then trying the headphones on low volume. Probably all of that triggered these symptoms again, including ear burning sensation I have suffered from some time after that. I think anxiety can make things worse but hyperacusis is a real thing.