I Had One Good Ear without Tinnitus — Until Tonight

[Mister Muso]

So I had one "bad" ear with high tinnitus and one "good" ear without it. Until band practice tonight when the guy setting up the desk caused a huge feedback shriek lasting 5 seconds. Now I have tinnitus in stereo. Plus dullness and a burning sensation in my formerly good ear.

I was trying to be sensible and was wearing my noise cancelling headphones at the time, with a foam earplug in my bad ear. Nothing under the headphones in my (formerly) good ear as this was supposedly my "quiet" band.

At least it's the same squeal on both sides now. Actually I recognise this as the same temporary ringing I've experienced a number of times before after a loud concert or night out. The formerly better ear does seem to be easing slightly now. So it's off to bed with a sleeping pill and hoping for the best tomorrow....

 

[Michael B]

Best of luck. Hope things are better in the morning.

 

[Mister Muso]

Still ringing in both ears and a slightly thick, warm feeling in the one with the latest trauma.

I don't know if it is worth a visit to accident and emergency, or whether I should just accept that these types of effects are inevitable given the damage I've done to my ears over the years, and that it may take years of looking after them better to see an improvement.

 

[Bill Bauer]

So I had one "bad" ear with high tinnitus and one "good" ear without it. Until band practice tonight when the guy setting up the desk caused a huge feedback shriek lasting 5 seconds. Now I have tinnitus in stereo. Plus dullness and a burning sensation in my formerly good ear.

I was trying to be sensible and was wearing my noise cancelling headphones at the time, with a foam earplug in my bad ear. Nothing under the headphones in my (formerly) good ear as this was supposedly my "quiet" band.

At least it's the same squeal on both sides now. Actually I recognise this as the same temporary ringing I've experienced a number of times before after a loud concert or night out. The formerly better ear does seem to be easing slightly now. So it's off to bed with a sleeping pill and hoping for the best tomorrow....

Consider staying away from that band for a year or two.

 

[Mister Muso]

Consider staying away from that band for a year or two.

Definitely! Easing off slightly in the better ear but I now know I have no good ears, they are obviously both compromised.

 

[Digital Doc]

I have one ear with tinnitus as well, and one without. Always protect both ears equally. After all, should really do your best to keep the good ear ok.

Feel better soon.

 

[Watasha]

Definitely! Easing off slightly in the better ear but I now know I have no good ears, they are obviously both compromised.

Based off what I've read from other people, if you truly believe you suffered an acoustic trauma (not sure how likely that is if wearing noise canceling headphones) then you should consider a trip to the doctor for a course of prednisone.

 

[Mister Muso]

Based off what I've read from other people, if you truly believe you suffered an acoustic trauma (not sure how likely that is if wearing noise canceling headphones) then you should consider a trip to the doctor for a course of prednisone.

It was a huge blast of feedback in a very small room. My hearing instantly dipped and stayed that way for half an hour. I still have some ringing and a tight feeling in my formerly good ear, so yes I shall make phone them first thing tomorrow.

 

[Watasha]

It was a huge blast of feedback in a very small room. My hearing instantly dipped and stayed that way for half an hour. I still have some ringing and a tight feeling in my formerly good ear, so yes I shall make phone them first thing tomorrow.

From what I've heard, it's important to tell them that you've experienced sudden hearing loss. I've also heard that this isn't something to be considered lightly which I'm sure hardly any of us are.

 

[Digital Doc]

Noise canceling headphones are not particularly protective. They work best at lower frequency, and steady sounds. This noise was short, and feedback is at high frequency- the exact situations where these noise canceling headphones are at their weakest.

"Even the best noise cancelling headphones can't work magic. Low frequency noise, like the airplane example above, are where noise cancelling headphones shine. Low, steady sound is easy to cancel out. Higher frequency, and transient sounds, aren't. So you're still going to hear voices, babies, etc."

https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffr...-cancelling-headphones-worth-it/#5b13272546d5

 

[Contrast]

dullness and a burning sensation in my formerly good ear.

Noise induced pain is going to cripple you if you do not cease from dangerous noise activities.

This isn't a joke, a damaged cochlea can leave you with permanent burning ear pain from sound.

 

[Mister Muso]

Noise induced pain is going to cripple you if you do not cease from dangerous noise activities.

I'm increasingly realizing that. There is no "good" ear and bad ear - getting tinnitus in one ear is a sign that both ears are compromised. Looking around the forum, a lot of people seem to get ringing in one ear first and then the other some time later. That doesn't mean its inevitable for the problems to get worse, it means we will always need to be careful, and should step up the care we are taking at the first signs of trouble.

I put a stop to the rehearsal and told them I wouldn't be practising with them again for a while. If I ever do, I'll put a ban on microphones. I probably won't go that concert later in the year either. I don't even enjoy listening to rock music any more, knowing the damage it can do. It's about priorities. Instead of spending my time mourning the activities I've now lost, I am shifting my focus to thinking about how to protect the hearing I still have.

Going to the doctor again this morning.

 

[Sash]

I am having the same issues. I had had Tinnitus in my left ear for 18 months but my right ear now hurts and is sensitive since April. No idea why perhaps my good ear was compensating for my bad ear.

Glad you are being sensible. I wish I was a little more sensible. Trying to stay away from loud venues though the temptation is high but that would be foolish as my ear have become so sensitive which is more difficult to deal with than loud Tinnitus. Wish you well

 

[Mister Muso]

I am having the same issues. I had had Tinnitus in my left ear for 18 months but my right ear now hurts and is sensitive since April. No idea why perhaps my good ear was compensating for my bad ear.

Glad you are being sensible. I wish I was a little more sensible. Trying to stay away from loud venues though the temptation is high but that would be foolish as my ear have become so sensitive which is more difficult to deal with than loud Tinnitus. Wish you well

I've not been sensible enough sadly. I've been learning the hard way! But hoping it's not too late and I can still enjoy some of the things I used to enjoy like playing the piano with no worries. Even if it takes years rather than months of extra care.

 

[Digital Doc]

I'm increasingly realizing that. There is no "good" ear and bad ear - getting tinnitus in one ear is a sign that both ears are compromised. Looking around the forum, a lot of people seem to get ringing in one ear first and then the other some time later. That doesn't mean its inevitable for the problems to get worse, it means we will always need to be careful, and should step up the care we are taking at the first signs of trouble.

I put a stop to the rehearsal and told them I wouldn't be practising with them again for a while. If I ever do, I'll put a ban on microphones. I probably won't go that concert later in the year either. I don't even enjoy listening to rock music any more, knowing the damage it can do. It's about priorities. Instead of spending my time mourning the activities I've now lost, I am shifting my focus to thinking about how to protect the hearing I still have.

Going to the doctor again this morning.

Yes, both ears get compromised. If you think about it, while perhaps not exactly, both ears in most cases get exposed to the same level of noise exposure, more or less, so both would be at risk for tinnitus/hyperacusis to a quite similar degree.