@glynis @Ed209 a BIG problem, and I need an opinion.
@Red @fishbone @Tinker Bell @Deamon22
So glynis will know how I've always resorted to doing online tests, testing the frequencies when I'm in doubt and think I have hearing loss, I often test, usually using 8KHz because that's the highest normal hearing tests go.
It should be noted that whenever I test, to be keep it reliable, safe and fair I keep the volume very very low, so that it's really quiet.
Upon noticing 8KHz was slightly quieter in my left ear not long ago, I have recently been obsessing. Last night, I tested, obsessively, comparing the left ear, the right ear, with 8KHz tone. (cover left ear, play tone, then pause tone. Cover right ear, play tone, then pause. Being panicked and obsessive I normally end up comparing carefully for maybe a minute? Again, the frequency will be on the quietest volume, so that it's not even uncomfortable to listen to. After doing it last night, I panicked hugely because I noticed a loud lower pitched ring in my left ear. I sometimes get that anyway at night, I believe it could be blood flow related, but it came on just after I was done with the 8KHz so I had a huge panic attack right before bed, but eventually went to bed and it had resolved today.
I knew that obviously, testing it wasn't helping, but today I still felt a strong urge to test again. It's like, I need to know whether it's still quieter in my left ear, so I did test again - like an addictive urge - I just did it, with huge adrenaline as I did. Again, same result, quieter or unable to hear in the left. Then, not long after again this lower pitched tone starts. I stay in my silent room monitoring it, and it got very very loud, as it is as I type.
It's been 7 hours since I did my last test, which lasted shorter than a minute I should add. And now, I'm panicking like crazy, because this low pitched whining sound is awful. I'm so worried I've permanently harmed myself. But how? Surely it's safe? It's 8KHz on minimal/almost barely audible volume for short duration. Surely this really should not have done any harm? Surely? I've never had an issue in the past. But it's so so loud, this ring in the left, this low pitched whine, which again in not a constant tone more like a kind of morse code. But it's really loud. I'm very scared.
Could I seriously have harmed myself here? It would seem silly to have harm done from this, but my ear is telling me I did harm by ringing loudly. Help I'm panicking so much.
Might I add, people even will use 8KHz and higher tones to mask their tinnitus, and I think I've created a very loud tinnitus from listening to it on minimal volume for a short period