Tinnitus, Broken Speaker Sensation in Ear

[ArnoldT]

So I was exposed to loud rifles at hunting a week ago, while unprotected ( wasn't even hunting myself...) now I know how stupid it was, I wish everyone knew about the consequences.

After that I got this broken speaker feeling on high pitch noises in left ear, I thought it will go away.
Then started stressing out and reading about stuff and found out Tinnitus, which I got now too I guess, but I think I only got it few days later, or maybe I noticed it just later when I started reading, and now it seems louder.

Went to GP today, which was clueless and told me it should go away on it's own. Well I been reading TT all weekend, and I think I have more knowledge then her, she didin't even referred to ENT
So I'm going to other GP tommorow, I can't afford to go straight to ENT because I'm foreign student in Australia and have OSHC inssurance, where only GP can referre to specialist, otherwise I'm not covered I guess.

Have any of you experienced that broken speaker thing? It doesn't hurt, but it is annoying.
Thanks for the answers!

 

[PaulBe]

Many of us experience that. I've had it on and off for three years now and I can't get "used" to it. You aren't missing much from not going to an ENT. You'd get about as much value from an obstetrician. As for GP, you might as well see a Vet.

 

[Owen]

Many of us experience that. I've had it on and off for three years now and I can't get "used" to it. You aren't missing much from not going to an ENT. You'd get about as much value from an obstetrician. As for GP, you might as well see a Vet.

Seconded. I saw 3 ENT consultants. The first 2 really didn't know anything about tinnitus, nor seemingly did they care. The last was very caring and did assure me that in the majority of cases, even if the tinnitus doesn't improve, the ability to cope will, but beyond that, he couldn't help.

Honestly, your best bet is not to do anything drastic and dig in for the long haul.

 

[Reinier]

Have any of you experienced that broken speaker thing? It doesn't hurt, but it is annoying.
Thanks for the answers!

I "third" it.
After a loud explosion (similar to rifle noise) I hear the same distortion (broken speaker on high frequencies) in my most effected (right) ear. For more than 16 months now. So I guess it is there to stay.
"Fascinating" that a GP is clueless and does not refer you to an ENT.
Actually this is not fascinating but pretty sad.