Tinnitus, Hearing Damage from Banging Dishes

[Coyotesheaven]

I've been suffering progressive hearing loss, T, and migraines for a while and I have a substantial vulnerability to loud noises.

Today I was watching TV with friends and the table where I placed a dish was rather low to the ground. As such, I placed it too close to the edge, and when my knees came up I accidentally hit the dishes right in front of me, which made a loud crashing sound around 85-90 db or a bit louder.

I had a small T spike immediately after, but I also have muffled hearing in all frequencies. I lose some hearing every day from noises a little quieter than this or for other reasons (probably because it triggers migraines), so is it likely that this damage is permanent?

Would appreciate the help. Thank you

 

[GregCA]

I lose some hearing every day from noises a little quieter than this or for other reasons (probably because it triggers migraines), so is it likely that this damage is permanent?

How do you know that you lose hearing every day? Do you measure your hearing every day?

We all lose a bit of hearing every day (even healthy people), but if it's enough for it to be noticeable to you, it has to be in the range of a few dB (because that's what it takes for our brains to notice volume changes) and if that were to happen every day, you'd be completely deaf in a matter of weeks.

There's something I don't understand about your statement...

 

[Coyotesheaven]

My hearing actually fluctuates frequently but it is slowly going down in the higher frequencies. I am very tuned in to how well my body's senses are working than I believe most people are, so I would know if it were a change of just 1 decibel.
And, according to my last audiogram, in the higher frequencies I lost about 10 decibels in a single month, but not in the mid or low frequencies. I have lost over 20 decibels in some of the high frequencies in the last year, and no longer hear above 10k in the right ear, if that.

Did you answer my question?

 

[GregCA]

My hearing actually fluctuates frequently but it is slowly going down in the higher frequencies. I am very tuned in to how well my body's senses are working than I believe most people are, so I would know if it were a change of just 1 decibel.
And, according to my last audiogram, in the higher frequencies I lost about 10 decibels in a single month, but not in the mid or low frequencies. I have lost over 20 decibels in some of the high frequencies in the last year, and no longer hear above 10k in the right ear, if that.

Did you answer my question?

I don't mean this in any offensive way, shape or form, but I seriously doubt you (or anyone really) can notice a difference of 1 dB of sound. In fact, the sound equipment itself in the lab you go to get a professional audiogram has an uncertainty level higher than that. When you get an audiogram, it's not accurate to 1 dB. You could redo the test 1h later and get different results (they should be within 5 dB margin though).

At any rate, if you lose 10 dB in one month (take multiple audiograms to get a better sense of "where the truth lies"), it's a serious loss, and at this rate you will be deaf in less than a year. How long has this been going on? Do the losses apply to all the ranges of frequencies or just high?

Fluctuation can be a useful symptom to know. What do the doctors say? What steps have you taken to debug it?

 

[linearb]

subjective hearing tests are subject to all sorts of problems, and as a result a 10db difference from one test to another is not significant. I've had tests vary by up to 15+ db as a result of equipment differences, how well rested I am, etc.

it's not really possible for a single 85db (or even 100db) impulsive noise to do anything physically damaging, so if sounds at that level are causing you issues like this, it sounds like you have something really unusual/unfortunate going on. Personally I'd push for a full neuro worktop and probably all sorts of blood tests.

 

[Coyotesheaven]

Well I do have migraines triggered by loud sounds, which result in blood vessel spasms near the auditory part of my inner ear according to what my doctor told me. I also believe cervical issues are playing a part in my vulnerability to all kinds of other triggers.

 

[Kane Moffat]

Do you have meniere's?