I Was Exposed to Two Burglar Alarms 6 Days Ago — Left Ear Sounds Like Alarm

I don't exactly know how to express my pain. I went to my father's office the other day with him and he forgot the code. The alarm went off, then three minutes later an even louder alarm from outside went off. I had no idea what to do or where to go because I was standing outside the door with my dogs in the hallway very close like literally feet away from the inside alarm system going off. Eventually the police showed up and the alarm was turned off. Now about 6 days later my left ear sounds like the alarm and my right ear sounds like it normally did with static but a bit more pronounced. I deeply regret even leaving to go there with him and not running away outside when he forgot the code.

I got a hearing test almost a year ago and the results came back perfectly fine. I'm not sure what the hell I should do now. Should I schedule another appointment to get my hearing tested to tell whether or not I sustained damage from the burglar alarms? Is it too soon to test for damage should I wait a month or two till the damage shows up on the test? I already blocked my father and do not wish to speak to him again.

I can't describe the alarm perfectly but the outside one was like broad like a firedrill alarm the inside from the security console was intermediate tones like buzz then huge noise, buzz, etc etc. My left ear sounds like the inside one because I was very close to it (it is right by the door and I stood outside and stood next to when I entered the room to try to help).

I hate hearing the alarm buzz in my ear its a high frequency too. I can't believe it I struggled for so much just to adjust to my tinnitus and now I have this new alarm buzz in my left ear. I hate that I have to suffer permanent consequences for this, and I hate my father for laughing this off like its some headache and that I should and I quote " just ignore it".

Sleeping at night has always become worse because its so loud now I feel like I'm standing next the alarm again.

 

My condolences.

Some people would, no doubt, recommend trying to get a round of steroids (prednisone). If you were within the first 24 hours of the event I would probably echo that, but the evidence for its usefulness isn't that strong, and the evidence which does exist indicates it needs to be used within, at most, 72 hours of the noise event. (I am not a doctor. Medical opinions on this seem to be mixed.)

Many people experience a noise trauma and recover significantly over a period of weeks to months; when tinnitus is in the mix things are more complicated. There are a handful of studies which suggest that listening to either broadband white noise, or classical music, constantly during early tinnitus, can help to some extent prevent it from becoming chronic. So, you might want to just listen to the collected works of Beethovan, Brahms, Mozart, Bach, etc over the next few weeks, at a volume which is low enough to not be dangerous, but is at least somewhat distracting from the sound.

Other than that, you can't do much besides try to eat and sleep well to give your body the best chance of healing, hope for the best, and avoid horror stories on the internet. Lots of people get some kind of noise trauma that really mucks them up for some period of time, the majority recover to a point where it's not much of an issue in their life.

Assuming do indeed improve to the point where you start to forget about this -- assume that your hearing is compromised and that you are now much more vulnerable to damage. Carry earplugs. Think carefully about concerts, guns, etc. I wouldn't do anything loud at all for 3-6 months.

 

Nac, magnesium, and I would still try to get prednisone at this point! Steroid injections also have a chance of being helpful up to 30 days out.

 

Hopefully it will begin fading after about a month or two...

 

Exactly same thing happened to me in July. I dropped off my elderly parents at home and they had forgotten the fob to turn off the alarm. The Alarm went off and I should have put my ear plugs on or just ran out but stupidly didn't. It went on for a few minutes

I think that was the start for my Tinnitus to get a lot worse as noticed my ears were weaker and little more sensitive. Then I went to a football match month later which (tickets were booked months ago) and think that really did damage my ears big time.

Now ears seem permanently damaged and doubt I will recover from this. I only had Tinnitus in one ear now I think its in both ears, both ears are sensitive and seemed bruised. I have ear fullness too. Tinnitus in my left ear is so loud. The latest spikes have really upset me as I rarely venture out and little bit lost

One thing, I understand your frustration and annoyance at your father but he didn't intentionally forget the code. I didn't even mention this alarm episode to my parents at all.

I would just forgive and move on.

 

Any differences in your hearing?

 

No difference to hearing. The alarm did damage my ears big time

 

I have since my exposure to the burglar alarm noticed when I move my head to the right I feel a weird sensation in my ear, something similar to wind passing by or a muffled nose you'd expect if you plugged an ear. I also noticed this only happens when bringing my head from neutral to my right shoulder and back up or from tucking my chin down and going back up. This doesn't happen to my left ear.

I also noticed if I apply a little pressure to my neck on the right side under my jaw bone I can feel that feeling in my ear, think of how you would take your pulse by pressing fingers against your neck on the right side, that triggers the weird sensation. This doesn't happen on my left ear. I can also feel it happen when I open my mouth wide like saying ahh or chewing.

Did I rupture my eardrum? Is this what a ruptured ear drum or hearing loss is like? I don't know what's going on with my right ear. It's been like two weeks like this. Should I schedule for an ENT? I have no idea what's going on, what this is or why it's happening.

 

Soooo sorry you’re dealing with this. Do you still hear the alarm noise?

 

Hello,

I made a post about three months ago detailing about how I was exposed to two alarms at the same time. My ears currently feel like the tinnitus has been elevated a bit while the fullness feels like it stopped around December for the most part. I can sometimes at night or when I wear earbuds or muffs can slightly hear that type of vibrating alternating sound the alarm was sounding off. It feels like it comes and goes. I can't believe it I still feel so pissed I ever left the house that day.

Not sure what to do anymore. I carry a par of foams around now in case I ever get caught in an alarm I feel like carrying around muffs but they are too bulky to bring to most places and aren't very discrete to wear. I also can't wear muffs in the car because it can lead to being pulled over by the police.

I had a hearing test about a year ago. I was thinking about maybe scheduling another appointment with the same audiologist to run the test four test they did and maybe even an ABR (Think its a brain response test to sound where they use electrode). What do you guys think? Is it too early to get a retest? Could I have this new variation of ringing and an increase in my baseline without having worse hearing or hearing loss? Want to hear some level headed responses on this as I'm strongly wanting to get retested and even an ABR this time but I can't just do it without confidence because it cost money and I might have to ask my grandparents to fund it because of student loan debt I have currently.

My hyperacusis for the most part is tolerable. I can notice my tinnitus when I'm in my room and its silent, outside and its silent, at night its absolutely horrendous now and this is where I really feel like the effects from that alarm show. I can't explain it but the variations in the ringing and sound from the alarm along with the change in elevation of my normal ringing I had before make the night fucking horrible.

Every night every day I notice and hear my ringing its annoying, I'm not even wishing it would stop I'm wishing it would tone itself down to the point where its only apparent at night and if that not so loud as it is now. I'm 24 and want to focus on my schools and getting a job but the tinnitus has become so bold that I have to waste a significant amount of time not studying, or focusing but having to bare with the sound. How much time everyday I have to waste trying to cope or relax myself because of the noise can become more of a nuisance than the actual sound at times.

I envy everyone of my peers who doesn't have to waste a single hour everyday noticing their tinnitus and calming themselves down. I hate the fact that this is permanent and for life. I hate the fact I need to be extremely diligent and protective about my noise exposure. I hate nearly everything about tinnitus.

 

If you only notice it in a silent room, then turn on some ambient noise, what's the big deal?

 

I know it must be hard for you especially since you are young and at the age there is so much socialising to do.

Did you get Hyperacusis as the result of the alarm.

I did notice after my alarm exposure my ears were weakened and think alarms and gun fire shots are the worse sounds for ears.

There is no point of the test as its not going to improve matters nor an they tell you what the issue is or it its permanent or temporary spike. I doubt you have major hearing loss at your age. I think when you are young as long as you stay away from loud sounds then it probably will improve. Try not to think about it - though its easier said then done.

 

A few days ago one of those movement detectors at the entrance of a shop sounded several times next to me while people were coming through the door. That deeee daaaa sound was ridiculously loud and high pitched. So much it bothered some other customers' ears. It sounded five or six times, I plugged my ears for some of them, and then I decided to leave the place. It was a painful sound. I've been on a LOUD and NASTY spike since then. Sudden loud and high pitched sounds are the worst thing you can do to your ears.