Is This Chronic Tinnitus After Going to an Indoors Techno Festival?

Hi all!

First of all, I want to say how much I appreciate Tinnitus Talk. It has truly been a huge help to me.

Anyway, my story: on November 12th of this year I went to a live indoor techno festival for the first time in my life. As a newbie, I did not use earplugs, a choice that I would regret to this day.

After the festival, which ended late in the evening, I noticed high-pitched ringing in both my ears. I’m talking fighter-jet-loud. Because I had heard from friends that this is “normal” after a night out, I did not pay much attention to it and simply went to sleep, kind of assuming that it would go away the next day.

It did not. It was still there, but I was still relaxed. Fast forward a week, the ringing had stopped in my right ear completely, but was still there in my left ear, albeit on a considerably lower volume. You could almost say that it wasn’t there anymore, just the slightest of a ringing sound.

After this week, I was really happy that the ringing had went away and counted my blessings. I immediately bought earplugs and did not visit any other festival or club in the meantime, until I decided to watch a World Cup game with friends last Friday, the 9th of December. Netherlands scored, and all my friends roared GOAL for a couple seconds which spiked my tinnitus in my left ear again. I was devastated. It is now December 16th, and although the ringing has gradually subsided, it’s still there, much louder than when it went away after the first week.

Do you guys think it will go away again? It’s still kinda manageable at this point and it is (very slowly) reducing in volume so I’m still relaxed about it, but I am wondering what you guys think. Can I not go to parties again?

Thanks for reading and sorry for the long message.

 

If it doesn't go away, you will get used to it over time. The fact it's getting better is a good sign.

Just wear earplugs going to loud events and it will be fine. Get custom molded earplugs. You don't need to totally avoid these things forever, just wear earplugs.

 

Hi @tiniturk.

Exposure to loud noise is one of the most common causes of tinnitus and this is what you have. It usually improves with time, provided you do certain things to prevent it getting worse. You need to give your ears complete rest and that means keeping away from loud noise, such a loud parties, clubs and concerts. If you don't, the tinnitus is likely to get worse and become permanent.

If your first experience of tinnitus was on November 12th, I believe there is a good chance the tinnitus will reduce to very low levels and could completely disappear in time. In addition to keeping away from loud noise, I advise you not to listen to any type of audio through headphones, earbuds, headsets, noise-cancelling or bone conduction headphones, even at low volume, as you risk making the tinnitus worse. It is your choice whatever you decide to do but I am serious, if you are not careful, your tinnitus can increase to levels you wouldn't think possible. Sorry to sound so sobering.

Please click on the links below and read my posts: New to Tinnitus, What to Do, Tinnitus, A Personal View.

Go to my started threads and read my post: Hyperacusis, As I See It, Will My Tinnitus Get Worse?

Earplugs can be helpful but don't put total trust in them. The reason being, if external sound is loud enough, it can pass through the head and transfer to the inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus. More about this is explained in my posts.

Try to avoid quiet rooms and surroundings especially at night by using low-level sound enrichment. More about this is explained in my posts.

All the best,
Michael

New to Tinnitus, What to Do? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Tinnitus, A Personal View | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Unfortunately this is not true @SmallRonnie, especially for someone in the early stages of tinnitus like @tiniturk. He risks his tinnitus increasing and making it permanent if he continues going to places where loud music is played. Earplugs can be helpful but only up to a point. If external sound is too loud, it can pass through the head and transfer to the inner ear by bone conduction, which can spike the tinnitus.

If a person is fortunate, the spike will reduce within a short period of time. However, if it doesn't, it can increase the tinnitus to a new permanent level and in the process, completely change it to variable tinnitus. Variable tinnitus is usually a more severe form of noise-induced tinnitus and can be very difficult to habituate to. Noise-induced tinnitus is not something to take lightly because it can be ruthless and very unforgiving when severe.

Michael

Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

Many thanks for the reply, Michael. I will try to avoid loud places for the time being. My tinnitus has been the same volume for the last couple of days, so no reduction. However, if it does stay permanent like this, I’m still grateful. Very manageable at this point. I can only hear it when I’m alone in bed at the late evening and early morning (when I wake up).

I have one question. Almost 2 to 3 times a day, I have a spike for a couple of seconds in my left ear. The high-pitched ringing just goes to a much higher volume. Is this a warning sign, or completely normal in the early stages?

 

I disagree with you on this point. You cannot know for sure that anyone will have an increase in tinnitus from going to a music event while wearing earplugs.

This is fear-mongering that is not needed. You are scaring people into never wanting to leave their houses. Most people really will be fine just wearing earplugs.

I have been through many very loud events while wearing earplugs and my tinnitus never once spiked.

@tiniturk, Michael Leigh means well but do not take everything he says as a fact. There is a lot of truth to what he says but it's not true for everyone. Maybe lay off parties for a few weeks or until the tinnitus is down a lot and then go try them out but only with wearing good earplugs.

You need to talk to a doctor and don't take medical advice from random people on the internet with zero qualifications. Go to your GP and ask to see an ENT, they mostly can't help much but it's better if you do it.

 

Please read my posts on my started threads @SmallRonnie, and you will realize that I am not fear-mongering.

 

You are welcome @tiniturk.

Like others in this forum, I have been a veteran to noise-induced tinnitus for many years and have corresponded and counselled people with this condition. Please follow the advice given in my posts and pay particular attention to: New to Tinnitus, What to Do? Tinnitus will fluctuate a lot in the early stages, it can randomly spike too but will settle down in time.

With respect to @SmallRonnie, he means well, but please adhere to the advice I have given. I am not saying that you shouldn't go to parties, on the contrary, you must be careful of exposure to loud noise. If you have the time, please peruse my post history, you will see that I have always said my advice is not absolute. Please do not put total trust in earplugs as it's folly to do so.

Print my posts and refer to them often as this will help to reinforce positive thinking, which is so important in the habituation process.

I wish you well,
Michael

 

Thanks again for your kind explanation @Michael Leigh.

I am trying to maintain positive thoughts. These days I am alone at home so I keep on hearing my tinnitus. I will abstain from clubbing and listening to music via headphones until I get this thing under control. I am currently following your advice and using the sound of rain as sound enrichment.

In your experience, as someone who has helped a lot of people, is it still fully possible for my tinnitus to completely go away? I once read that if your first encounter happens when you are younger (I am 24), you have higher chances of tinnitus going away in a year or so, and I am now in my second month.

Thanks again!

 

Thank you for your kind words @tiniturk. You have asked some interesting questions, and I will do my best to answer them.

You are young and this is in favour. The fact that you're just two months in with tinnitus and showing some improvement is also good, but there are a few things to keep in mind. The recovery and habituation process takes time and cannot be rushed, this is the reason I have said to print my posts and refer to them often, as they will help to reinforce positive thinking, because your brain is hearing a strange new noise and it will take time for it to realize it isn't a threat, to your mental and emotional wellbeing.

It is possible for tinnitus to completely go away or reduce to such a low level that it is only heard in quiet surroundings. This can happen within the first 2 years from onset and possibly longer. However, please be aware, no matter how low the tinnitus becomes, it is your brain that has reduced it to this low level. If you return to listening to audio through any type of headphones, even at low volume, or you are exposed to loud sounds which cause spikes, then you risk the tinnitus increasing and in the process it could change to variable tinnitus.

This is not scaremongering, I am giving you facts based on personal experience and corresponding with many people that have noise-induced tinnitus. I have explained this at length in my post: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus?

I know how you feel at this moment but please try not worry about wanting your tinnitus to go completely away. When you habituate, as I believe you will, it won't matter in the slightest whether the tinnitus is silent, mild or moderate, as your brain will see the tinnitus as unimportant and ignore it! I have explained this in my posts: How to Habituate to Tinnitus and The Habituation Process.

I would like to pickup on something @SmallRonnie mentioned, about taking medical advice from random people on the Internet with zero qualifications. He is correct and you should talk to your GP about any concerns you have regarding your tinnitus, especially if it's causing you stress, this often happens in the early stages of tinnitus which I have mentioned in my posts. Please don't try and tough it out. Talk to your doctor.

I am not a doctor so I refrain from giving medical advice. However, I have many years experience with tinnitus, particularly noise induced, with or without hyperacusis. This has enabled me to help people having difficulty coping with these conditions and asking for help.

Most GPs and ENT doctors know very little about tinnitus and the way it can affect a person's mental and emotional wellbeing, because it's not something that can learnt in-depth from a book or at medical school. It is only by living with it and corresponding with people that one can acquire this knowledge. It is for this reason many audiologists, that counsel tinnitus patients, were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life.

Take care,
Michael

 

I completely agree with this. I have hunted with massive ear protection--wearing both foam earplugs an the highest-level earmuffs available. I shoot the gun and hear hardly any sound, but half an hour later the tinnitus ramps up for weeks. I will not do this again.

I've had several incidents of major noise trauma--in all cases the peak intensity eases over weeks or months, but I believe it adds to an accumulation of baseline tinnitus with each exposure. Live your life but you want your ears for a lifetime.

 

I am sorry to know that your tinnitus spiked @HauntedComputer, even though you were wearing high-end hearing protection, at least you now know not to put total trust in hearing protection. Hopefully people reading your post will do the same.

All the best,
Michael

 

I'm dealing with a similar style case to yours (tinnitus after two music festivals).

I have a lot of information on my thread about it if you want to look.

It's basically a crap shoot as to whether or not it resolves.

I've had mine 3 months in both ears and it's pure hell.

 

Hi @Blackbird1016,

Sorry to hear of your condition. Visiting this forum has either been incredibly humbling (understanding that other people's tinnitus is more severe than mine) or incredibly depressing (seeing people writing that tinnitus becomes worse with every year). I can only hear mine in quiet environments at the moment, when I'm alone in bed at night, for example. I can still sleep through it, though. All other daily sounds mask my tinnitus, fortunately, and I do hope that it just goes away within a year. I will not be listening to music via headphones and will not visit any music festivals until I either habituate or heal from this.

This all falls, however, pale in what you suffer at the moment. I pray that you find peace ASAP and damn this European health care system where tinnitus gets zero attention.

 

Just a quick update on my condition. I still have tinnitus, and for the last couple of weeks the ringing has not subsided. It is now at a constant 5/10. Daily chores mask it almost completely, but I hear it very clearly in silent environments. Especially at night, when I am trying to sleep. I am not using sound enrichment at the moment because I found out that I fall asleep faster without it and that rain sounds or white noise just distracts me.

When I wake up in the morning, I have near-silence. After being awake for 5-10 minutes, the tinnitus volume rises and it stays there until the next morning.

For the last 8 days I have been using Prednisolone after contacting a family-friend who's an ENT doctor abroad. So I am using Prednisolone almost 7 weeks after the initial trauma.

The dosage for 10 days total: 100 mg - 100 mg - 80 mg - 80 mg - 60 mg - 60 mg - 40 mg - 40 mg - 20 mg - 20 mg.

This doctor also told me that it was actually very late since Prednisolone should be used within the first week after the trauma, but my own ENT doctor (in my country) didn't really take me seriously and did not prescribe it. I have to say this medicine helped, albeit just a little bit. The ringing I had before using this treatment was louder. Maybe it's placebo, maybe it's natural healing, I do not know.

@Michael Leigh, since I have found out you are one of the experts on this subject, I had a couple of questions on this matter whose answers I could not find in one of your threads.

1. Will not using sound enrichment at night/during the day have a negative impact on my healing? Can I habituate or heal completely without sound enrichment? I find that it distracts me more than my tinnitus when I want to fall asleep.

2. Is it normal to have near-silence for a couple of minutes after waking up in the morning, after which the tinnitus returns to its ''baseline''?

Please forgive me for my grammar mistakes.

 

hi @SmallRonnie, could you let me know if the burning feeling you experienced has subsided? I am 4 to 5 months into tinnitus, either created by medication or having a bad cold - I can't be sure. After Christmas I have started to experience mild burning pain in one ear. The sensation is fleeting but comes on about 6 times per hour. Are you familiar with this feeling?

Also, I see you are from Ireland, can I ask where you got your Melatonin from?

Thank you.