Need Help and Opinions — Tinnitus Caused by Air Pressure?

[rezonwong]

So, I got the ringing ear (left only) 2 days ago.

I went into my car to drive, and when I shut the door, my left ear feels something isn't right. But I start driving. And realize that my left ear kind of having high pitched sound.

And it never stops. So today I went to ENT and describe the symptoms, the Dr told me that it happens because I shut the door too hard (I don't remember doing that), and that cause the air pressure high so my left ear couldn't bear it and the ringing happens.

He told me to do some exercise to warm up my body, and did told me that in couple of days, the ringing will gone. No medication prescribed. He checked my ear, nothing is wrong.

Air pressure seems make sense, but I doubt the ringing will be gone in couple of days.

What do you guys think?
Anyone have this air pressure ringing experience?

 

[maltese]

This sort of "sound pressure" is no different than a loud noise exposure.

You might consider giving up on the search for a cause. Knowing what caused won't help with the "curing" it as there is no such a thing as a cure for tinnitus.

Don't read online forums. Don't listen to your ringing. Try to forget about it. Use nature sounds played at a such volume that you can still hear your tinnitus if you listen to it when you can't sleep or want a break from T.

Be careful with loud noises in the future. Buy filtered earplugs and use them if you ever go to a concert or club.

Don't read online forums.

It's very early - it's very possible that your tinnitus will go away and never return. It might take a week, or a few weeks, or a year, or two.

There are dozens of success stories to prove that tinnitus can go away.

It gets better - stay positive!

Exercise. Eat well. Do things that make you happy. You will be fine.

Take care.

 

[Coyotesheaven]

Barotrauma is a thing, and some of us just happen to be more pressure sensitive :/. I get these kinds of accidents all the time, even from more mild triggers.

My suggestion would be to possibly consider a short term steroid use to heal the damage if the ringing gets worse, along with vitamins, magnesium, and rest. Your doctor is also right to do things to boost your general circulation; ears in those situations need blood flow to heal. Most importantly, don't drive in mountains or expose yourself to extreme pressure changes for a few weeks if you can help it. That is key to ear healing.

Barotrauma is fortunately usually confined to the middle ear/eardrum and goes away on it's own after a few days/weeks.

 

[rezonwong]

Thanks Maestromusica & Coyotesheaven

Really appreciate the comments and suggestion! Ill definitely do that.
Today i woke up with quieter ring,
Yeah i guess ill stay positive , and try to not "find" the sound .

I hope everyone having this problem can find a way through!

 

[fhs]

Do not listen to the people that say to deal with it or ignore it. More damage can occur unless the issue is resolved. Do you want a jet engine in your head? Also damage can be reversed in some cases.

Get another doctor. Shutting the door hard won't create high air pressure. Cars are not air tight why do you think they sink in water?

 

[rezonwong]

Do not listen to the people that say to deal with it or ignore it. More damage can occur unless the issue is resolved. Do you want a jet engine in your head? Also damage can be reversed in some cases.

Get another doctor. Shutting the door hard won't create high air pressure. Cars are not air tight why do you think they sink in water?

Fhs , the ENT doc tell me to always open the car window slightly before closing the door .
He didnt give me medication.

Do you think he is wrong?
Who should i listen to now
Need some encouragement here

 

[devonlee]

I find it really interesting that @maltese says more than once not to read online forums and yet, here we all are.

 

[maltese]

Fhs , the ENT doc tell me to always open the car window slightly before closing the door .
He didnt give me medication.

Do you think he is wrong?
Who should i listen to now
Need some encouragement here

He might be right, no harm in trying that

You can always consider getting a second opinion from some other doctor, if that's a possibilty.

 

[fhs]

Fhs , the ENT doc tell me to always open the car window slightly before closing the door .
He didnt give me medication.

Do you think he is wrong?
Who should i listen to now
Need some encouragement here

I usually hold back from saying someone is right or wrong but that is just ridiculous. Does the ENT know what the compression ratio is when you close your car door? Even if a car was completely seal (it's not) you'd have very little compression from closing the door and a very small increase in PSI. People go down 5 feet in a pool and have 2.19 PSI against the eardrum and do fine.

Are you kidding me? Get a second opinion. Don't even mention what the last doctor said. Billions of people close car doors everyday and nobody is known to get tinnitus from it. It's well known tinnitus can have an onset days to weeks after an acoustic event.

Are there any other symptoms? Bruxism? TMJD? Noise exposure even if a few years ago? Make sure you mention everything to the doctor.

 

[Steffi]

My ear is worse when I'm sat in a car with all the doors and windows closed. My ears instantly feel really full and pressurised. I need the window open a fraction. The same happens if I'm momentarily in the porch with both doors closed. Certainly didn't cause my T though or even cause a spike. Just feels wrong.

 

[buzztone]

My T definitely seems affected by air pressure, too. Whenever I close my car door with the windows up, I have to cover my left ear because of the pain (and it can cause ringing). Also, barometric pressure seems to affect the overall "clogged" feeling of my ears, and the ringing. (I guess this is the "my knee's acting up before the storm" effect?) This is my left ear only, so I'm seeing a specialist next week. Specialists don't like asymmetrical symptoms! An audiologist has already ruled out wax or fluid buildup, and my hearing is normal for someone of my age.

 

[Steffi]

@buzztone
Hi. I'm so relieved someone else gets the pressure thing too! Do you find it's sometimes worse in certain rooms of your house? Sometimes my T can go mad in my living room, I walk into kitchen and the pressure goes and T lowers. It's my left ear too.
Steph

 

[rezonwong]

@buzztone and @Steffi

Finally (and sadly) , people with same symptoms..
How long has your T started?

Buzztone please update us after the specialist checkup ok?