When Sounds Go Into One Ear, I Hear Ringing in the Other Ear — How's This Even Possible?

[Zach777]

About a week into my hearing issues I noticed that sounds going in my left ear cause a metallic grinding sound in my right ear. The louder the sounds are that go into my left ear, the louder the ring is in my right ear. When the sounds stop going into my left ear or if I plug my left ear, then the ring in the right ear will stop.

Is this considered a type of tinnitus and if so, what would it be called? How could this even be possible?

 

[ajc]

Do all sounds trigger this or just some? If you watch TV, do you constantly hear the metallic grinding sound in your right ear?

How is it possible that external sounds are only going into your left ear? Do you use an earplug in your right ear but not left? Usually people hear with their both ears.

 

[Stacken77]

About a week into my hearing issues I noticed that sounds going in my left ear cause a metallic grinding sound in my right ear. The louder the sounds are that go into my left ear, the louder the ring is in my right ear. When the sounds stop going into my left ear or if I plug my left ear, then the ring in the right ear will stop.

Is this considered a type of tinnitus and if so, what would it be called? How could this even be possible?

I've read of a few cases where sound entering one ear spikes the other. I've also kinda experienced it myself when typing on a keyboard. I believe this is most likely due to a central sensitivity in the auditory system.

Stacken

 

[AbeS]

Not the same thing but years before I got tinnitus and hyperacusis, I think I had TTTS symptoms.

I used to listen to podcasts with one earbud and certain sounds and voices would make the opposite ear twitch.

 

[Juan]

About a week into my hearing issues I noticed that sounds going in my left ear cause a metallic grinding sound in my right ear. The louder the sounds are that go into my left ear, the louder the ring is in my right ear. When the sounds stop going into my left ear or if I plug my left ear, then the ring in the right ear will stop.

Is this considered a type of tinnitus and if so, what would it be called? How could this even be possible?

I guess that's possible... In my personal case if I rub my fingers next to my ear, I hear a high pitched sound, a beep, in the other ear.

Maybe you should do a tympanogram, to test the eardrum pressure. It might have to do with that.

 

[Zach777]

Do all sounds trigger this or just some? If you watch TV, do you constantly hear the metallic grinding sound in your right ear?

How is it possible that external sounds are only going into your left ear? Do you use an earplug in your right ear but not left? Usually people hear with their both ears.

Yeah it's triggered by all sounds. It's mostly affected by sounds within a few feet of my left ear, so the TV 10 feet away from me for example won't cause it, unless I were to turn the TV volume up to a certain level. Simply talking or rubbing my left ear with my hand or a piece of cloth will trigger it the most.

And yes, if I plug my left ear to allow no sound to enter then I will not get any grinding sound in my right ear, so it's only sounds going into that ear.

Someone else a couple weeks ago had a post about the same issue, I thought I was the only person too have experienced it as you can't find any info on it online.

 

[Zach777]

I should also mention the metal grinding sound happens simultaneously with the sound from the left ear, so it's not a ring that is triggered and then goes off. It only happens simultaneously with the sound going into the left ear.

Also, the title of the thread of the other poster who has a similar issue is called "Rubbing Right Ear Causes 3.8 kHz Ringing in Left Ear — What Causes This?" if anyone wants to check it out.