Newly Developed Tinnitus After Listening to Music at Max Volume Through Earbuds

[EmLeo]

Hi everyone,

I'm Emily, 29 years old. Six days ago, I developed a persistent high-pitched ringing in both of my ears, accompanied by a sense of fullness. The evening before I noticed the tinnitus, I had (regrettably) been listening to music at maximum volume through earbuds for about 15 minutes while on a walk. At one point, my ears suddenly experienced a sharp pain, so I turned the volume down to around 65 decibels and continued my walk with the music still playing. Although the pain worried me, I assumed that turning the volume down quickly would prevent any serious issues. I now realize how wrong I was.

Afterward, my ears felt slightly sore, but nothing else seemed off. The following day, I came across a YouTube video about headphone safety. At the end of the video, there was a hearing test, which instructed me to use headphones at 50% volume. The test assessed which frequencies I could hear, and it went up to 19,000 Hz. I could hear up to 15,000 Hz. Ironically, this test made me decide to be more cautious with my hearing in the future. Less than an hour later, I became aware of a loud, piercing, high-frequency ringing in my ears.

I'm devastated. My mental health has been fragile since childhood, and I was just starting to make progress toward a life I actually wanted to live.

Over the past few days, I've had multiple panic attacks and cried more than I have in years. In the past, I've contemplated suicide, but I always stopped myself, knowing I couldn't hurt the people who love me. But now, everything feels different. I've started writing letters to my family to express how much I love and appreciate them. While I'm not making any rash decisions, I want to leave something for them just in case. I don't think I can cope with this for a long period of time. The uncertainty of whether this is permanent is unbearable.

I went to my GP three days after the onset. She mentioned that one of my ears looked slightly red but said there was no other sign of anything wrong. She referred me to an ENT specialist, but the earliest available appointment is a month away. I voiced my concern about the long wait, especially after reading that early intervention might be time-sensitive. My GP suggested I could go to the Emergency Department if I was very worried. I did, and after hours of waiting, I was told the same thing. Now, I've booked a private ENT appointment in three days, hoping to get a prescription for Prednisone in a timely manner.

I'm sorry if this post seems like a rambling mess. In a month, I'm supposed to move to a new city with my best friend, and I was really looking forward to it. Now, I feel hopeless, like all I'll bring with me is negativity. I'm terrified. Right now, I feel like I'd rather lose a limb than endure this torment. In the past, the thought of hurting my loved ones kept me from considering a permanent solution, but I'm not sure if that's enough anymore.

I guess I'm looking for support from people who understand what this feels like, and advice on whether or not Prednisone is something I should insist on when I see my ENT in a few days.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I'm sorry for the lack of hope in my message. I know many of you live with this condition and find ways to cope. I just don't know if I can do the same.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I'm Emily, 29 years old. Six days ago, I developed a persistent high-pitched ringing in both of my ears, accompanied by a sense of fullness. The evening before I noticed the tinnitus, I had (regrettably) been listening to music at maximum

Hi @EmLeo,

Headphones are one of the most common causes of tinnitus. Please read the following posts on my started threads:

• New to Tinnitus, What to Do?
• Tinnitus, A Personal View
• Hyperacusis, As I See It
• Will My Tinnitus Get Worse?
• How to Habituate to Tinnitus
• The Habituation Process

There are other articles you might find helpful.

Take care,
Michael

 

[EmLeo]

Hi @Michael Leigh,

Thank you for responding. I've read through the threads you attached, as well as others on your page, and I do feel slightly more equipped to cope for the time being. The amount of knowledge you have about this condition seems vast, and I feel a bit calmer about the long-term prognosis. It appears that mindset will be integral, so I am trying not to fall into further despair. I will be playing low-level noise while I try to sleep and will definitely avoid headphones and loud noises for the foreseeable future. I have also picked up some Ginkgo Biloba and magnesium.

Do you have any advice regarding Prednisone? From what I've read, the earlier it is administered, the more likely it is to be effective. However, I've also seen accounts from people saying it has exacerbated their tinnitus, and I'm concerned about the possibility of it making the ringing louder, higher, or more intrusive.

Thanks again,
Emily

 

[Michael Leigh]

Do you have any advice re: Prednisone?

Hi @EmLeo,

I have never taken Prednisone. I am aware that some people find it helpful while others don't.

Please print the posts that I have mentioned and others that you find of interest, then place them in a folder. Refer to them often. They are a form of counseling and will help to reinforce positive thinking. Reading them on your phone or computer screen is fine, but by printing them, you will obtain the maximum benefit. Please pay particular attention to my thread: Keeping Things Simple with Tinnitus.

I went to my GP three days after the onset. She mentioned that one of my ears looked slightly red but said there was no other sign of anything wrong. She referred me to an ENT specialist, but the earliest available appointment is a month away. I voiced my concern about the long wait, especially after reading that early intervention might be time-sensitive. My GP suggested I could go to the Emergency Department if I was very worried

I understand your concerns but must stress that for straightforward tinnitus, a 4 to 6-month wait to be seen at ENT is normal practice in the UK. I don't know what part of your world, but I suspect you live in the UK since you mentioned seeing your GP. There is a good reason for a 4 to 6-month wait, which I have mentioned in my thread: Tinnitus, A Personal View. If a person has additional symptoms with their tinnitus, such as problems with their balance, dizziness, acute pain in the ears, or deafness, they will usually be fast-tracked to ENT.

If you live in the UK, I advise you not to see a private ENT doctor. I know how desperate you feel now, but please don't do this because you'll be wasting your money. You will get the best help and long-term aftercare for tinnitus under the NHS, which no private practice can match in the UK. My GP told me this 28 years ago when I first got tinnitus, and I have found this to be true.

Talk to your GP and explain how you feel. Your doctor may suggest medication to help lower any anxiety or stress that you have. This is the reason I have suggested you print and take your time to read my posts.

Take care,
Michael

 

[Mark F.]

Hang in there, Emily! The trauma to your ears—and your psyche—is still fresh, but it will get better with time. We all go through the initial shock, grief, and regret over the actions that caused our tinnitus. Feelings of panic, high anxiety, hopelessness, and depression are common.

But please, be patient and protect your delicate ears moving forward. Someone here coined the acronym T.P.P.: Time, Patience, and Protection. With these, you will start to heal.

Please hang in there. We all know how you feel.

 

[Furetto]

Don't worry, you will get better in time; you just need to have a lot of patience. Trust the process, as they say.

Here are my suggestions:

1. Avoid taking online hearing tests, as they can be inaccurate and potentially harmful.
   
   
2. I would consider taking prednisone. A typical course might be 60mg for 10 days, unless you've taken it before and experienced significant side effects. (Personally, it doesn't cause me any side effects.) There's no need for tapering on short courses, even though some doctors still recommend it. However, please remember that I am not a medical professional, and you should never take medical advice from strangers online without consulting a specialized ENT.
   
   
3. I agree with Michael—discussing an anti-anxiety medication with your doctor might help you manage panic or anxiety, especially in the early stages.
   
   
4. Stay offline as much as possible and resist the urge to Google symptoms. You've experienced sound trauma, and there's nothing you can do right now to fix your ears other than resting them and protecting them from loud noises. Online, you'll mostly encounter horror stories from extreme cases, which are unlikely to apply to you and will only increase your anxiety. If you feel the need to read something, stick to the "Success Stories" section on forums. This way, you'll focus on people who were in your situation and eventually returned to normal life.
   
   
5. Search YouTube for soothing sounds that help mask your tinnitus and use them to relax or sleep. I find that crickets work best for me. It's best to set the volume just below your tinnitus level, but it's okay to mask it completely when you need a break. Just mix both strategies—if you mask it all the time, it might slow down your habituation process.

Stay patient and take care of yourself.