Loud Noise and Tinnitus Spikes: How Long Do You Rest? Share Your Recovery Experiences

[Maruashen]

Experiencing a tinnitus spike following exposure to loud noise can be frustrating. Many of us have probably encountered situations where unexpected loud sounds, such as sirens, dishes, or other noises, have led to a noticeable increase in tinnitus intensity and often anxiety.

Understanding how to manage these spikes and determining the appropriate rest period for our ears seems important for recovery.

I did not find a thread like this, so I thought maybe we could all share our experiences and help each other, as well as future sufferers.

By sharing our stories, we can better understand the variability in recovery times and the strategies that may help reduce the effects of noise-induced tinnitus spikes.

Here are some questions that could guide our posts:

• The Incident: What was the source of the loud noise? How did the exposure happen?
  
  
• Immediate Aftermath: How did your tinnitus change following the exposure? Did you notice any other symptoms, such as a muffled ear or increased hyperacusis?
  
  
• Rest and Recovery: How long did you allow your ears to rest afterward? Did you avoid certain environments or activities during this period?
  
  
• Vitamins or Medications: Did you take any vitamins, NAC, or medications after the incident?
  
  
• Outcome: Did your tinnitus return to its baseline level? How long did it take?

 

[PeteJ]

Wow, no one replying to this? It's a good question. I've endured so many incidents.

The latest one was a truck in an underground garage. I'm freaking out, hoping my spike will settle down and I'll return to baseline. The only times I'm really worried are when incidents involve trucks in traffic, but this was in a garage, so I also had to worry about the echo factor. Another situation is when my apartment fire alarm goes off unexpectedly, since I don't have hearing protection until I can grab my earmuffs.

Even when I wear the earmuffs, I still get a spike afterwards. I'm worried about whether it will return to baseline. I haven't kept close track, but I think it usually does after a few days. Unfortunately, my tinnitus has gotten worse at different points in time, and I haven't kept a proper log.

I usually use foam earplugs more often after an incident, but then I get ear canal problems, like discomfort and pain, because my ears are sensitive even though I'm using foam.

I take a lot of NAC and Magnesium supplements after the exposure. I don't know if it helps. Has anyone posted that they think it helps, and how would that even be tested or measured?

 

[Badger55]

In 1992, I was exposed to a large explosion on a construction site. I immediately noticed a loud, high-pitched squeal in my left ear and a quieter high-pitched squeal in my right ear. I experienced all the usual symptoms of anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion, and fear for the future, and I had no relief until late in the first year.

The turning point came when I began occasionally using Clonazepam. It helped me sleep better, which in turn gradually reduced the tinnitus over a period of about eight or nine months. I would say the loudness started at around 8 or 9 out of 10 and eventually settled to a fully habituated level of 1 or 2 after about 20 months.

 

[Nick47]

The turning point came when I began occasionally using Clonazepam. It helped me sleep better, which in turn gradually reduced the tinnitus over a period of about eight or nine months. I would say the loudness started at around 8 or 9 out of 10 and eventually settled to a fully habituated level of 1 or 2 after about 20 months.

@Badger55, how many times a week did you use Clonazepam, and at what doses?

 

[Maruashen]

It's time for me to reply to my own post.

A while ago, I was exposed to a random air-raid siren, so I wanted to share the process and outcome. It might help someone in the future.

• The Incident:
  I was exposed to an Air-raid siren. They produce approximately 145 dB from 1 meter distance. They're usually mounted on roofs, and I was just down at the street, sitting in a convertible with its soft top folded up (luckily). I was about 27 meters from the source, which means that about 117 dB hit the car, and it's hard for me to tell how much a soft-top reduces that kind of sound; it could be anywhere between 6-18 dB, I'm assuming. The siren signal lasted for a second or two.
  
  
• Immediate Aftermath:
  Right after the incident, I felt that my tinnitus had increased, but I'm not sure if it was because of the sound or that I was stressed out by the incident. I didn't have muffled hearing or more sensitivity, but my ears were ringing.
  
  
• Rest and Recovery:
  I gave myself about a week to rest by using more earmuffs than usual and in general staying away from things that I felt were too loud. I'm not sure it was needed, but why not?
  
  
• Vitamins or Medications:
  I took all of them. That includes NAC 600mg per day, oral steroids (a milder course of about 40mg, then quickly tapering down), and basic vitamins like A, B, C, D, E, etc. I'm not sure they made the outcome different; it's hard to tell. I know studies are saying you should take a certain amount of steroids for x amount of days for it to be effective, but I don't know. I felt like I wanted to take something in between.
  
  
• Outcome:
  My tinnitus returned fairly quickly to my previous baseline, I believe, it took about 3 days. I think most of the sudden tinnitus increase came from stress, because it was a stressful moment for me, sitting in a car, and from nowhere, air-raid sirens blasted. The siren was very loud; it was like a car honking right next to you, but louder and more intense.