What Generally Happens After Being Exposed to Loud Noise? Instant or Delayed Symptoms?

[Andy9214]

After an incident to loud noise exposure what generally happens? Do your ears ring instantly, feel clogged, or does it take some time before your ears begin to ring?

I believe I had an incident at a concert about three months ago, but my ENT claims it's not noise induced because my ears didn't start ringing until two weeks after.

Right after the concert my ears felt clogged/muffled and I went to my ENT about a week later and he put me on prednisone. I went back the next week so he could see if my symptoms improved and took a hearing test at the time (about two weeks after the incident.) During the hearing test my right ear started ringing and it's been three months and it hasn't stopped.

The clogged sensation is still there in both ears.

It would be reassuring if anyone on here can share their stories of noise induced tinnitus/what happened with the onset of your issues to know if this is noise induced or not.

I'm just concerned because the ENT said the only way I could be relieved of my symptoms is to wear hearing aides. I'm 25 with a high frequency hearing loss, but never had any issues before this concert about three months ago.

 

[Rb86]

I had/have the clogged sensation which varies.... it started with muffled hearing, then a low end warble which after a week or so turned into the high pitched ring. So yes, it can come on delayed.

 

[Digital Doc]

After an acoustic trauma as you describe, first is the muffled hearing with the sensation of ear fullness for some days. As this improves, the T starts, and continues to increase over a variable period of time. This T increase gets called a delayed spike, and can certainly occur up to 2 weeks later.

As you developed your symptoms after a concert this is most likely noise induced.

The question is what other noise exposures you had prior to the concert, and subsequently. For example, noise at work, subway, gym, headphone use, restaurant, airplane, pub, vacuum, lawn mower, clubs, etc. as they can all be quite loud. At this time, be sure to avoid further noise exposure as it will worsen the T, and cause further damage.

 

[jpr992]

What about having ear fullness and increased sound sensivity 1 week after the acoustic trauma, and having completely normal ears during that week?

 

[GBB]

After an incident to loud noise exposure what generally happens? Do your ears ring instantly, feel clogged, or does it take some time before your ears begin to ring?

I believe I had an incident at a concert about three months ago, but my ENT claims it's not noise induced because my ears didn't start ringing until two weeks after.

Right after the concert my ears felt clogged/muffled and I went to my ENT about a week later and he put me on prednisone. I went back the next week so he could see if my symptoms improved and took a hearing test at the time (about two weeks after the incident.) During the hearing test my right ear started ringing and it's been three months and it hasn't stopped.

The clogged sensation is still there in both ears.

It would be reassuring if anyone on here can share their stories of noise induced tinnitus/what happened with the onset of your issues to know if this is noise induced or not.

I'm just concerned because the ENT said the only way I could be relieved of my symptoms is to wear hearing aides. I'm 25 with a high frequency hearing loss, but never had any issues before this concert about three months ago.

For me it took a few days before the full horror of tinnitus / hyperacusis appeared - the next day I was 95% fine except I noticed the A/C in my car making a very slight whistling noise. I still went to sleep in silence. I never experienced ear fullness or muffled hearing as far as I can recall.