Low-Frequency Tinnitus After Listening to Headphones for 3 Hours

My ears started ringing with a low frequency tone 1 week ago, after listening to my new headphones for 3 hours. I did not use headphones for several days prior to this, and did not listen very loud. I rarely use headphones for more than 1 hours, and I'm always mindful about the volume. Especially since I already had some ringing, due to infections last fall. I did feel a discomfort in my ears towards the end of the 3 hour session, and after taking them off I heard an intense low frequency tone, that sounded like this (go to 25 seconds):

Soft Wind - Sound Effect

When it happened it was pretty strong, but the next day and days after it has sounded more like a distant noise, tricking me into thinking there was an engine, machine or ventilation system in the area that caused the sound. It sounds kind of like the link above, but now a bit more distant. Another example is this video, but only the barely present higher frequency noise in the video, and not the very low one which is way more present in the video:

10 hours of white noise: ventilation system

I hear it almost everywhere now, and it elevates with sounds such as certain traffic noise or machine noises, and fans. Especially when I'm on the bus, it elevates together with the bus engine. Strange thing is that the high frequency tinnitus that I used to have, seems to be disappearing when this low frequency one is present. I also feel some kind of fullness or discomfort in my ears at times. At night when it's finally quiet outside (I live near a noisy highway), I can't hear the low frequency tinnitus anymore at all, and the high pitch tinnitus comes back again. Outside I could rarely ever hear my high pitch ones, because they only appeared when it was quiet, like inside. But the low frequency one acts the opposite, because it elevates with noise, especially while being outside.

Obviously this has caused me a lot of stress, and I'm struggling to concentrate with other things, and can't stop worrying about it. I was hoping it would go away after some days of "resting" my ears, by not using headphones for example. But after 1 week, it's still there.

Does anyone have any suggestion on what this can be, and what I should do? I'm thinking about seeing a doctor, for all it's worth. But I suspect that there's really not much they can help with.

 

Just to clarify, I never really used headphones much until 6 months ago. I did develop high pitch ringing around that time, due to ear infections. This was before I even started listening to headphones. I've always been mindful about volume and never did longer sessions than 1.5 hours. This was one of very few exceptions, because I got a new headphone that day. I know people that listen louder than me for 8 hours almost every day with headphones, and have been doing so for a long time, without having any form or ringing or issues yet. Obviously they might develop it with time doing that, but 3 hours in 1 day shouldn't damage my hearing unless it's very loud, or I have been listening excessively for some time prior to it. Despite the tinnitus problems, my hearing is still just as good as it always have been (I'm 26). Now those 3 hours does seem to have triggered it somehow, but I find it odd. Something underlying?

It seems like I have developed some kind of low frequency reactive tinnitus, and I have what I should do and what I should not do. I wish I could see a specialist soon, but the waiting list is like 6 months here... I can't listen to music with headphones anymore, because my ears will just start hurting.

 

Welcome to the forum. I understand what you are experiencing as I have quite similar tinnitus, a high pitched one and a low humming rumbling one like from a jet engine. I have my high pitched one probably from stress or from loud noise exposure (trying to fix a faulty smoke alarm without wearing earplugs). The low one is from a sudden hearing loss of the left ear about 18 months ago. In fact the above sound video can mask my humming tinnitus quite well. lol.

Assuming that your tinnitus is from the over exposure of noise from the headphone, then it is acoustic trauma that you ears may suffer from. Being it is quite recent, members here often recommend people to see a doctor or ENT to get prednisone treatment. The sooner the better. Try not to expose to more loud noise or use headphone again during this period when your ears are hurt or unstable. Try mask your tinnitus if it bothers you but keep the volume low. Try not to overly worry about it as stress and anxiety can aggravate the tinnitus. Give your body time to heal, which usually take 6 months to a year or two. Try read up the success stories to give you hope and calm your nerves to avoid triggering the limbic nerves which can cause you to function in fight or flight mode and make tinnitus sound worse.

Take it easy and give it time. Take care. God bless.

 

Thank you for the reply. Since last time I wrote, it has become better. But still there.

One of the big reliefs is that at least the sounds are now sounding from inside my ears (now mainly just my right ear), and not from distance which was way more annoying. I've become more suspicious that fluid in my ear could also be the problem, creating some kind of echoish effect. Feels like some kind of fluid is moving inside my ears at times, and I feel some kind of pressure inside. But my hearing is not really muffled as of now, and was not earlier either. So I'm not sure if any fluid is really blocking anything inside of there.

I will try to see a doctor, but unfortunately they rarely know anything about these kind of problems here, they just send you to an ENT, and you will have to wait for like 6 months until it's finally your turn to talk to them...

 

An ENT will probably find the fluid build up. If that is the problem, then if it is taken care off then your tinnitus should fade. Best wishes.

 

Update: Pinching my nose and blowing with my mouth shut does nothing. I've done this method in the past several times with success, but after several attempts I cannot make air reach my ears like it used to. I tried to blow gently for the most part, but when I used more force, air came through my left tear duct, and still nothing to my ears.

 

Hey, a few questions for you regarding your low hum!

What kind of level of hearing loss do you have and at what frequency?

Is you hum around the same frequency or below 100 Hz?

Does it cut in and out with other low sounds or is it constant no matter what?