Noise-Induced Tinnitus

[CrystalB]

I am wondering, if you get noise-induced tinnitus from a loud sound and it damages your ears, would you get hearing loss associated with that?

 

[RingerBell]

You might want to check out this Tinnitus Talk survey. One third of the people having tinnitus in general (all causes, not necessary noise induced), report no loss in the survey.

 

[Nicholas]

I have noise-induced tinnitus (both ears), I did the test and they discovered I haven't hearing loss. So no, it's not a must.

 

[Greg Clarke]

Me too, noise induced but hearing is still ok.

 

[New Guy]

When I visited my second ENT I started to get emotional about my t and the hearing loss (Noise Induced Hearing Loss over years) that caused it. The nurse looked at me and calmly said there are plenty of people with no hearing loss who have t too.

 

[LukeYoung]

Noise Induced but no hearing loss on a regular test.

They sometimes call it hidden hearing loss.

 

[Samantha R]

The hearing loss can be above the tested frquencies.
Most likely there is hearing loss but it is at frequencies above 8khz.

 

[Michael B]

People may have a degree of hearing loss but not realize it.

 

[RingerBell]

The hearing loss can be above the tested frquencies.
Most likely there is hearing loss but it is at frequencies above 8khz.

Or below the lower limit 125Hz. And sometimes lowest tone tested is 250Hz. For example, male voice fundamental frequency is often lower than 250Hz and it's not uncommon to have fundamental frequency below 100Hz.

 

[RingerBell]

If threshold of normal hearing is considered to be around 20dB in the pure audiometry test, it still leaves much room for changes in hearing. And 0dB is not the lowest sound pressure level people in general hear, it just a reference level. If one has sensitive hearing, it can go below the 0dB in the pure tone audiometry, for example -5dB.

For example, if one would have very sensitive hearing in certain range, for example initial threshold could be -5dB. Afterwards threshold could be +15dB. That leaves some room to discuss whether or not hearing loss occurred...

 

[jjflyman]

I am wondering, if you get noise-induced tinnitus from a loud sound and it damages your ears, would you get hearing loss associated with that?

I've had bad T from very loud noise exposure 2 times. No hearing loss.

 

[Samir]

How loud? If it's loud enough it will most definitely result with hearing loss. Although it may not be noticeable at first. Hearing loss is nothing magical. By the very definition, hearing loss is the loss of ability to hear. The only way that can happen is if you damage your ears, or a part of the brain that's essential for hearing which is less likely.

What is normal hearing? If you are told that you have normal hearing level, it does not necessarily mean that you don't have any damage to your ears. It may just mean that the damage is hard to detect. The basic hearing test is a behavioral test. It doesn't objectively verify that the cells are not damaged. It doesn't replace a microscope, but it's the best and only test we have right now. There are some more advanced tests that can be done, but they are mostly of interest to researchers in a lab setting.

I have noise induced hearing loss. I received an extremely loud noise, right in my ears! I jumped like one of those lab rats that scientists deafen for various lab experiments. I do have hearing loss, and I have evidence to show it. Moreover, my tinnitus has the same pitch as the noise I was exposed to. Also, my initial hearing test showed a 30 dB dip at 6000 Hz. Surrounding frequencies were at about 10 dB to 15 dB. Subsequent hearing tests showed a remarkable/impossible improvement at 6000 Hz, from 30 dB to 15 dB. A doubling! Remarkable improvement... then came the tinnitus... go figure.

 

[Rajin]

30 dB dip at 6000 Hz. Surrounding frequencies were at about 10 dB to 15 dB. Subsequent hearing tests showed a remarkable/impossible improvement at 6000 Hz, from 30 dB to 15 dB. A doubling! Remarkable improvement... then came the tinnitus... go figure.

Do you think the loudness of your T depends on how much DB at 6 k your dip it. Does the T volume depends on the severity of the loss . My loss is at 6 k too but 70 bd. Only my left ears. I wonder if my T will be louder ?

 

[Samir]

Do you think the loudness of your T depends on how much DB at 6 k your dip it. Does the T volume depends on the severity of the loss . My loss is at 6 k too but 70 bd. Only my left ears. I wonder if my T will be louder ?

Good question! Yes, that's the way I interpret my own experience. I had the in-ear phones in my ears when this sudden, extremely loud noise came on. It must have been at least 120 dB if not more. I instantly jumped and pulled them out but the damage was done.

As I recall it, my left ear felt like deafened for a short while but not so much my right ear. I didn't have any ringing immediately after. I figure my brain must have increased its sensitivity to compensate for the loss of hair cells. It must have been a narrow lesion in my left cochlea, because I can still hear 6000 Hz pretty well, or even "normal" if you ask my audiologist. By some magic trick, that 30 db dip has improved even though it's not supposed to since these cells don't regenerate.

The noise I was exposed to was almost like a pure tone. It was like one of those TV test screen tones, but only higher in pitch. It did have some overtones and harmonics, with average frequency centered at 5900 Hz. So at about 6000 Hz is where the most of the sound energy was at. The reason I know this is because I caught it on the sound recording, it was during a recording that the noise came on. So it's no wonder I had a 30 dB dip at 6k on the audiogram.

 

[grate_biff]

I´ll be happy the day people come on here, claiming to have no HL, assure us they have tested their upper hearing levels as well (8-20 kHz)

 

[Angus William]

I'd happily take a bit of hearing loss over listening to this high pitched ringing in my head. Four weeks in now and it makes one dysfunctional and the constant distractions needed are tiring. I'm here browsing for something similar to my predicament, with a view on recovery road.

The 8khz thing seems to be the common consensus. I got tested and the Doc said my hearing was perfect. Now I know about the 8khz thing, I'm not so sure it's perfect at all. It's probably high end cooked.