Will I Go Deaf or Have Severe Hearing Loss When I'm 30?

[CarloZ]

I'm 17 and I have a mild tinnitus. Not too mild but mild. I got it from listening to death metal music though earphones at max volumes. How I don't have severe high pitched tinnitus is beyond me. I'm still scared that it will get to that point in a couple months. Hope not. What I also fear is that my usage of loud earphones from the past 4-5 years will lead to me being deaf when I'm 30, and that will lead to my tinnitus being a lot louder. If I stop listening to headphones and loud music and don't expose to loud environments, do you think it's not too late not to go deaf when I'm 30? I haven't checked if I have hearing loss right now. Probably do, doesn't feel like it though but how can I not?

 

[SoulStation]

I think you would benefit from some CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy). You will not go deaf. Just protect your ears.

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

I second SoulStations response.

I have the equivalent amount of loud music exposure as you, and I'm almost 35 now and not even CLOSE to being deaf. I have a successful business in audio and I'm just extremely careful with my ears now. My tinnitus has not gotten any better, unfortunately, but it hasn't gotten any worse.

 

[Hariz Nonis]

CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy).

What is that? Can you tell me the details? I'm just like OP, the same age as well

 

[PaulBe]

Easily googled Hariz, and you'll probably learn more than you could get here.

 

[linearb]

I listened to a lot of loud music as a teenager, I first noticed tinnitus when I was 19. It did get significantly worse following a single concert without hearing protection a decade later -- however, I'm pushing 35, and my hearing is fine; my very high frequencies have a big notch on the left, but it doesn't noticeably impact my ability to hear / enjoy music / etc, and overall my hearing tests as very good on normal audiograms.

So, you've probably done some damage and there may be a price to pay, but I wouldn't freak out about being deaf when you're 30, that seems pretty unlikely.

 

[CarloZ]

I listened to a lot of loud music as a teenager, I first noticed tinnitus when I was 19. It did get significantly worse following a single concert without hearing protection a decade later -- however, I'm pushing 35, and my hearing is fine; my very high frequencies have a big notch on the left, but it doesn't noticeably impact my ability to hear / enjoy music / etc, and overall my hearing tests as very good on normal audiograms.

So, you've probably done some damage and there may be a price to pay, but I wouldn't freak out about being deaf when you're 30, that seems pretty unlikely.

Thank you, sir. Hey, do you consider yourself habituated? I've seen many of your post and I can never see a straight answer from you. Haha.

 

[linearb]

Thank you, sir. Hey, do you consider yourself habituated? I've seen many of your post and I can never see a straight answer from you. Haha.

No, not really, I guess? I mean, I still have periods of time where this drives me bonkers.

I also have long stretches where it seems like not that big a deal, and I only think about it ~5% of the time. The past couple weeks at least have pretty much been in that category.

 

[CarloZ]

No, not really, I guess? I mean, I still have periods of time where this drives me bonkers.

I also have long stretches where it seems like not that big a deal, and I only think about it ~5% of the time. The past couple weeks at least have pretty much been in that category.

How long has it been since your tinnitus got worse?
Also, how bad was it when you were 19? Mild or severe?

 

[linearb]

How long has it been since your tinnitus got worse?
Also, how bad was it when you were 19? Mild or severe?

It got worse in 2009 following an unreasonably loud concert.

I don't really know what "mild" and "severe" mean. When I was 19 it was quiet enough that it was hard to hear in outdoor environments, but I was extremely, extremely distressed by it. These days it is loud enough that I can pretty much hear it in all environments, but a lot of the time I am not really aware of it and when I am I am usually not very fazed by it.

 

[CarloZ]

It got worse in 2009 following an unreasonably loud concert.

I don't really know what "mild" and "severe" mean. When I was 19 it was quiet enough that it was hard to hear in outdoor environments, but I was extremely, extremely distressed by it. These days it is loud enough that I can pretty much hear it in all environments, but a lot of the time I am not really aware of it and when I am I am usually not very fazed by it.

Would you say it prevents from being happy or living life? That last sentence kind of sounds like habituation.

 

[linearb]

Would you say it prevents from being happy or living life? That last sentence kind of sounds like habituation.

well... it's complicated. I can honestly say that I am no less happy now than I was right before I had tinnitus, or right before it got worse in 2009 -- but, both of those times in my life were very difficult, and I had a lot of unresolved stress that was dominating my life. So, if anything, I am happier, more stable, and more functional now -- but a lot of that relates to very significant changes I've made in my life over the last 5-10 years... and some of those changes were directly motivated by having to deal with a constant noise in my head! So, it is very complicated.

 

[Nucleo]

You won't go deaf by 30 if you stop abusing your ears.