I Used an Earplug in Only My Bad Ear, and Tinnitus Got Worse in the Formerly Good Ear

[Bill Bauer]

I developed tinnitus after a sonic toothbrush came into contact with the opening of one of my ear canals. It delivered vibration and noise to only one ear, and that is the ear where I had developed tinnitus 10 days later. Eventually I began to wear an earplug in that ear whenever I would be outside of my home. I didn't protect the other, "good" ear.

Unfortunately, nine months after the onset of my tinnitus, it spread to the other ear. Since it hasn't been injured in any way, I continued to not protect it when I would be at places like the grocery store.

It has been 20 months since the onset of my tinnitus. Recently, I realized that about two thirds of the time, my tinnitus is louder in the formerly good ear(!) I wonder what might have been, had I been protecting both ears... My experience seems to support the hypothesis that it is a good idea to protect one's ears.

 

[Starthrower]

@Bill Bauer just wondering how the sonic toothbrush got into your ear?

Back in the first few years my tinnitus would always travel from one to the other ear. One side had nerve damage. I always would use two ear plugs when necessary. I think this is more of a "brain" thing rather than your good ear getting more damage not being protected.

Hope it settles for you.

 

[Bill Bauer]

@Bill Bauer just wondering how the sonic toothbrush got into your ear?

It is a long story that used to bother me a lot.

I'll just say that it is NOT going in there again!

Back in the first few years my tinnitus would always travel from one to the other ear. One side had nerve damage. I always would use two ear plugs when necessary. I think this is more of a "brain" thing rather than your good ear getting more damage not being protected.

T might not have began in the other ear as a result of no protection, but I am not sure why T is usually louder in that other ear?

 

[PDodge]

Something here Bill. My T was mostly on my right side. Now its louder on the left. It comes and goes, ebbs and flows. I'm sure 9 months from now you'll be scratching your head at another problem

 

[Michael B]

I remember visiting my ENT early on when I had tinnitus on only one side. He said I'd eventually get it on the other side and he was right.

 

[Alue]

I have been trying to protect both ears equally for over 2.5 years and my T (new tone) is louder in my formerly good (better) ear.

Come to think of it, after the initial acoustic trauma, my T moved into my head. The head T is very intrusive and reactive. Do you have 'head T' or is it mostly in your ears @Bill Bauer?

It's amazing all the different crap tinnitus seems to trigger when it comes on.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Do you have 'head T' or is it mostly in your ears @Bill Bauer?

It is usually my ears, but I am certainly no stranger to "head T"...

 

[SugarMagnolia]

I use ear muffs for loud things like vacuuming, so my good ear gets protected too. When I'm out and about and need to cover my ear from a siren or something like that, I only protect my bad ear, unless it's ridicuously loud, like an ambulance going by right next to me, then I protect my good ear as well as my bad ear.

 

[Virginia1027]

I started with high pitched ringing in one ear 5 years ago. Then I got a low tone in my right ear three years ago. Then came pulsing, buzzing, blah, blah, blah. Don't worry about it! Tinnitus is going to do whatever it wants. It's ok! Just don't let it stop you from living your regular life! Sure if you're going to a loud event like an action movie or rock concert you should wear ear protection but not to do something like vacuum. As a matter of fact, if you over protect your ears they will become over-sensitive and your tinnitus will drive you nuts. Please take the advice a very kind fellow tinnitus sufferer gave me once and just do your best to keep living your normal regular life. If you over protect and focus on your tinnitus it will become the only thing your brain can register. You need to give your mind to something else to do. I know it's hard to believe but I promise you little by little, day by day you will get your sanity back.

Start meditating. I found it to be tremendously helpful. I don't use maskers very often but I do when I meditate that way I can fully relax.