Did Using Q-Tips Cause My Tinnitus? I'm 24 Years Old

Hello! Thank you for providing such a great platform!

I think that I might‘ve rammed too many q tips into my ear for cleaning purposes. Two days after (March 29th) I realized that I have a ringing in my ear.
Since then I have been to 4 several ENT‘s, a dentist and my family doctor without a satisfying result.

My tinnitus has been moving from right to left for like 7 days. Sometimes I can even feel it straight in the middle of my head.
Also I can somewhat decide which side my tinnitus appears by leaning my head to either side. When doing that, I can feel a fluid running through my head from one ear to another.

However, my ENT couldn‘t find any fluids behind my eardrums and I‘ve been feeling depressed ever since because I thought it might go away (the intensity and loudness had decreased a tiny bit over days).
Tinnitus has made its first appearance in my head 12 days ago and I feel like it is here to stay.


(English isn‘t my first language, hope you‘ll understand everything though)

 

Hey there, another 24 year old here.

It can be really hard to tell what side it's coming from or which is worse, especially if it's caused by something physically going on like allergies which can change the intensity from day to day.

If you have any congestion, post nasal drip, I'd suggest getting an allergy screening done. For some people that can cause tinnitus.

I don't know about Q-tips I've never used them, but before you settle on that being the cause I would check for Eustachian tube problems or a b12 deficiency.

If it has decreased at all that is a good sign it won't be permanent.

Also be honest with yourself about hearing damage if you have been exposed to a lot of loud noises or a couple of big ones. The good news there is that there are a few drugs being tested right now to repair hearing loss and get rid of tinnitus.

Good luck friend.

 

Thank you so much!

Oh, that seems like a good idea. I haven‘t been tested for allergies in years.
Do you know, by any chance, if the regular blood test gives you information about b12 deficiency? Or do I need a specific test?

Also, I slept for more than 3 hours (first time in like 10 days) tonight which made it decrease even more. It does go up occasionally, however.

I am pretty sure my hearing is fine. I am trying to avoid noise though. Don‘t want to risk any further damage.

Thanks again for your kind words and good luck to you!

 

Regardless of whether this caused your tinnitus or not: stop doing it. Q-tips are dangerous tools for your ears. If you need ear cleaning, use something like this instead. Completely safe and also way more effective.

I hope your T will resolve itself. It's still early days, anything can happen

 

Thank you for the recommendation. I definitely won't use q-tips anymore. I've learned my lesson.

 

I don't know that for sure, but definitely ask the doctor. They might be able to send some of the blood to a place that can test for that or something.

Sleeping almost always brings mine down to baseline, and the first few weeks are the worst when trying to get to sleep.
Over time the sound bothers you a little less. Also, I'm not sure if this will help get rid of it, but I've found that if you sleep without any background noise like a fan, the T is quieter in the morning than if you don't, for me at least.

Fluctuating volume level is also normal, in the beginning mine would go from between a 4 and an 8, after two months past it goes from a 3 to a 4 since then.

 

I too have developed tinnitus from using q-tips due to itchy ears. It’s been two months since the onset of symptoms predominantly in one ear where I felt some pain while q-tipping. Had my ear microsuctioned for ear wax removal and that didn’t help. I might have a MRI done soon hopefully it comes back ok. The tinnitus has improved since the first few weeks of onset but hasn’t ever gone away Though it fluctuates in intensity depending on my jaw muscles. Just had some physical therapy that may have helped some.

 

@Gregory s -- Very diluted chlorine dioxide drops has been known to alleviate itchy ears. Very diluted hydrogen peroxide would likely give similar results.