One Night Out with Earplugs Triggered a Severe Tinnitus Spike After Years of Stability

[Strife_84]

It has been a while since I have been here. About three years, actually. I have had my tinnitus and hyperacusis for about six years now, and honestly, the last couple of years have been good. I found a new passion after quitting music, and I have enjoyed my life more than I did when I had healthy ears. It is strange how a life-altering accident can change a person from the inside. Believe it or not, I have done a tremendous amount of work on myself, my ears, and my life over the past six years.

Of course, I have had some accidental spikes during these years, such as at the dentist, and I have ended up in places that were too loud a few times. But nothing serious happened, and for the most part, I have been able to live a fairly normal life. Naturally, I have avoided loud environments.

Last week, though, my school friends invited me out. I have studied with them for three years and never gone out with them before. I do not get invited out very often, so I thought, "Okay, why not?" They knew about my condition. I have told people about it, so they understood that I would be wearing earplugs the entire night.

I took my earplugs with me—silicone plugs with about 25 decibels of reduction—and kept them in the whole time while we were inside the bar and later the nightclub. This was my first time going out with earplugs, and I thought I was prepared.

My ears felt fine the entire night. I had no issues at all. At one point I briefly removed one earplug to check how loud the noise was and told them, "Holy... it's so loud!" and immediately put it back in.

I finally got home with no issues, but the next day when I woke up, my tinnitus had gone from a 1 or 2 out of 10 to a 7 out of 10. This is a nightmare. I have had spikes before, and they are always mentally very difficult. I ask myself, "Is this permanent? Will it go away? Am I going to survive this?" In the past, all my spikes have gone away in two to four weeks. So maybe this one will too.

But I am so disappointed in myself. I was so happy before this. Why did I put myself through that? I should have known better.

The good news is that I have only slight hyperacusis symptoms, and my hearing is only a little more sensitive. Usually, when I have had spikes in the past, my hearing has been much more reactive.

I just wanted to feel normal, maybe one last time, and spend some quality time with my friends before we go our separate ways after graduation. But now I know that I cannot ever go into any place louder than a restaurant, even with earplugs. No concerts, no clubs, no bars, nothing like that ever again, even with protection.

I am just feeling down. Part of me is angry with myself, and part of me understands. This probably would have happened eventually, since I had always wondered whether I could go out if I used earplugs. Well, now I have my answer.

Now I am afraid I might have caused permanent damage. I was actually in the same club once about six years ago without earplugs. That was a stupid decision. I had forgotten them at home and wanted to please my friends. I got a bad spike then too, but I recovered well. I have not been back there since—until now, with earplugs.

Just wanted to vent a bit. Be careful, everyone. Even with earplugs.

 

[Strife_84]

A little bit better today, but still much worse than usual. It has been a week now since the exposure to loud music. Maybe I should have used my AirPods Max instead of earplugs?

 

[Sparklecat]

I cannot say for certain, obviously. However, I had stabilized with my own tinnitus and then attended a concert with foam earplugs in November of last year. Unfortunately, my ears became significantly worse afterward, and they have been quite unstable since.

Initially, I was getting used to it. Although it was impossible to ignore because it was louder than nearly everything else, it was not constantly consuming my attention. But in the last few days, it spiked even louder. I am not entirely sure why. It might be because of a muscle relaxer I took, or perhaps because I used a car vacuum while wearing earplugs, and maybe that still affected me. Honestly, I have no idea anymore.

Anyway, I am sorry you are dealing with this. In my experience, no amount of ear protection would have prevented my tinnitus from worsening at a concert. Blah. Thanks for the memories, Slowdive!

 

[Strife_84]

I cannot say for certain, obviously. However, I had stabilized with my own tinnitus and then attended a concert with foam earplugs in November of last year. Unfortunately, my ears became significantly worse afterward, and they have been quite unstable since.

Initially, I was getting used to it. Although it was impossible to ignore because it was louder than nearly everything else, it was not constantly consuming my attention. But in the last few days, it spiked even louder. I am not entirely sure why. It might be because of a muscle relaxer I took, or perhaps because I used a car vacuum while wearing earplugs, and maybe that still affected me. Honestly, I have no idea anymore.

Anyway, I am sorry you are dealing with this. In my experience, no amount of ear protection would have prevented my tinnitus from worsening at a concert. Blah. Thanks for the memories, Slowdive!

Thank you for your reply. I'm sorry about your condition too. The worst part of this is that I thought I was well prepared. But I guess it's like having a glove on your hand and hitting it with a hammer. Maybe it hurts, maybe it doesn't.

Today is slightly better—not by much. My ears develop a feeling of fullness whenever I am exposed to sounds. Even using an electric toothbrush makes it worse. If I remember correctly, I have had worse spikes before, but it is still horrible.

I hope your condition improves as well. Thank you for responding!

 

[Strife_84]

I guess I should be slightly worried since I've noticed that I feel a bit nauseous whenever I am in loud places. This has never happened before. But what has happened cannot be changed. All the progress I've made over the years—living basically a tinnitus and hyperacusis-free life—is gone in just a few alcohol-induced hours.

Any tips on how not to be angry at myself?

 

[Strife_84]

This is my journal now.

It has been eight days since the exposure. I feel slightly better than I did a week ago, so that is good. When I compare this to my earlier spikes, it does not feel so bad. In some ways, it feels bad, and in other ways, it doesn't.

I've noticed that my tinnitus is fluctuating a lot. I even experienced a relatively quiet moment after waking up. For some reason, caffeine makes my tinnitus much louder now. This hasn't happened to me in years. I have been able to drink caffeine without any noticeable effects for a couple of years.

I've also noticed some mild nausea. I feel a bit wobbly, almost as if my head has been through a boxing match. There is definitely a sense of pressure inside my head and ears. This is not a completely new sensation for me—I used to experience it many years ago when I was recovering from the first accident that caused my tinnitus.

On a positive note, my hyperacusis has not been affected in any significant way. There might be a bit more sensitivity, but nothing serious. Currently, the feelings of fullness, pressure, and increased tinnitus are what bother me the most.

My ability to do things has also decreased. I am having a hard time concentrating on anything creative, like writing or thinking. I have also noticed that I am feeling depressed. Smiling is harder than usual, and I do not feel as happy as I have felt in recent months. Things were actually going very well in my life before this.

I will update this journal from time to time.

For those wondering, "Should I go to a club with headphones?"

My advice is: Don't.

I thought I would be fine because my tinnitus and hyperacusis were basically non-existent. I was wrong. I hope my post helps someone reconsider going to a club.

A false sense of security—that's your worst enemy.

 

[Strife_84]

Day 9

I feel slightly better. I am experiencing some strange nausea. My tinnitus is still much louder than it used to be, but it doesn't bother me as much anymore.

I have started to regain my ability to concentrate and do small tasks.

There is still a feeling of pain and pressure in my ears, but it has improved.

Small improvements are what matter.

 

[SafeMusicFan]

Hoping for the best for you.

It's unbelievable how fragile ears can be or become. I hope you won't stay angry at yourself. You did your best, and given how deceptive a full recovery can feel, it's completely natural and human to be tempted by activities that, for most people—especially with protection—would be okay occasionally.

Now that you understand your own limits better, you are probably less likely to experience similar incidents in the future. The fact that you're already feeling better on day 9 is a positive sign for your recovery.

 

[Strife_84]

Hoping for the best for you.

It's unbelievable how fragile ears can be or become. I hope you won't stay angry at yourself. You did your best, and given how deceptive a full recovery can feel, it's completely natural and human to be tempted by activities that, for most people—especially with protection—would be okay occasionally.

Now that you understand your own limits better, you are probably less likely to experience similar incidents in the future. The fact that you're already feeling better on day 9 is a positive sign for your recovery.

Thank you for your kind words. It is completely natural to want to belong to a group. I learned my lesson, and I hope others think twice before going to loud places, even with earplugs.

The hardest part is not being angry with yourself. It is natural to feel anger and disappointment at first, but no matter how much you dwell on it, what is done is done.

It is better to save that energy for recovery.

Thank you, and have a nice weekend.

 

[Strife_84]

A small update:

I'm feeling slightly better today. I had a pretty good day, but now in the evening, my tinnitus is louder again, making it hard to concentrate, and my ears ache a bit. Still, the overall direction is forward.

I can hear better again as well. A few days ago, everything sounded like an old radio—lots of treble, low bass, and poor sound quality—but today, it has improved.

This has been the best day so far since the exposure.

So think twice before going to a club after reading this thread. Do you really want to put yourself through weeks of misery for a few hours of "fun"?

 

[Rainer]

Maybe I should have used my AirPods Max instead of earplugs?

I am not sure about AirPods Max, but I doubt they are designed to help with conditions like ours. My personal solution is a combination of earplugs and electronic earmuffs.

I use Sordin Supreme Pro X with Gel Pads. These earmuffs are designed to reduce the sound of any firearm to 83 dB, so I believe they can handle most loud noises. The Moldex SparkPlugs have an advertised 35 dB SNR, which should further reduce the 83 dB to around 50 dB. For me, this ensures there will be no spikes.

I set these earmuffs to maximum amplification so they function as audio compressors. This way, they amplify soft sounds and reduce loud noises, allowing me to understand my conversation partners without them needing to raise their voices.

If around 50 dB is still too low for you, it might be worth trying less powerful earplugs.

 

[star-affinity]

A false sense of security—that's your worst enemy.

This!

I did something similar about a year ago, but it was much worse in my case because I didn't have my earplugs with me. I ended up using napkin paper in my ears. While I knew it wouldn't offer much protection, I thought I could stay with my friends for a while. I left within an hour, but it was too late. I noticed the difference as soon as I stepped outside, and it was even more obvious when I got home. The anxiety was overwhelming when I realized what I had done.

Then, five months later, when I was feeling a bit better, I went out again. This time, I used my silicone plugs, which offer 25 dB of dampening.

You can read about it here if you want:

Sound Annoyance and Worse Tinnitus After Out in a Loud Venue (Measured at 97 dB) for One Hour

I don't know where to start this because it feels unreal. And I blame myself 1000% for knowing better and not acting accordingly. I have been suffering from tinnitus for about three years (well, actually longer, but the intrusive tinnitus affecting me during the day is about three years). Also...

www.tinnitustalk.com

A false sense of security indeed. It is that mindset of, "I have something in my ears, so I'm fine, and everyone else isn't having a problem, so everything must be okay."

No, this must be taken very seriously, especially once some damage has already occurred.

I have not recovered from my two setbacks last year. My tinnitus is worse, and while my dysacusis and hyperacusis have improved, they are still significantly worse than they were a year ago, before the first of those two setbacks. My hearing has also declined since last year's mistakes—I can't hear grasshoppers as well in my left ear. High-pitch hearing is clearly worse in that ear, likely in the range where my most annoying high-pitched tinnitus occurs.

Anyway, it's great that you seem to recover so quickly! The fact that you had the plugs in almost all the time gives me hope that you have a better chance of returning to how things were than I do.

Wishing you the best of luck!

 

[Strife_84]

This!

I did something similar about a year ago, but it was much worse in my case because I didn't have my earplugs with me. I ended up using napkin paper in my ears. While I knew it wouldn't offer much protection, I thought I could stay with my friends for a while. I left within an hour, but it was too late. I noticed the difference as soon as I stepped outside, and it was even more obvious when I got home. The anxiety was overwhelming when I realized what I had done.

Then, five months later, when I was feeling a bit better, I went out again. This time, I used my silicone plugs, which offer 25 dB of dampening.

You can read about it here if you want:

Sound Annoyance and Worse Tinnitus After Out in a Loud Venue (Measured at 97 dB) for One Hour

I don't know where to start this because it feels unreal. And I blame myself 1000% for knowing better and not acting accordingly. I have been suffering from tinnitus for about three years (well, actually longer, but the intrusive tinnitus affecting me during the day is about three years). Also...

www.tinnitustalk.com

A false sense of security indeed. It is that mindset of, "I have something in my ears, so I'm fine, and everyone else isn't having a problem, so everything must be okay."

No, this must be taken very seriously, especially once some damage has already occurred.

I have not recovered from my two setbacks last year. My tinnitus is worse, and while my dysacusis and hyperacusis have improved, they are still significantly worse than they were a year ago, before the first of those two setbacks. My hearing has also declined since last year's mistakes—I can't hear grasshoppers as well in my left ear. High-pitch hearing is clearly worse in that ear, likely in the range where my most annoying high-pitched tinnitus occurs.

Anyway, it's great that you seem to recover so quickly! The fact that you had the plugs in almost all the time gives me hope that you have a better chance of returning to how things were than I do.

Wishing you the best of luck!

Thank you for the great reply.

I'm sorry you had such a difficult experience. Well, maybe it's not just about luck, but you know what I mean. I hope you eventually recover and return to your own version of "normal."

This is the third week for me after the exposure. I would rate myself an 8 out of 10. Since my condition was at 9 out of 10 before the incident, I still have some healing to do. But I already feel much better than I did a week ago, or even two weeks ago.

My left ear still tightens up if I spend too much time around louder everyday sounds like traffic, or high-pitched noises such as old video games or electronic music.

That said, I really do feel much better. The nausea is gone, which is a relief. Also, my tinnitus is almost back to baseline. However, my ears are still reactive to sounds, and the tinnitus gets louder easily. I think I need to give it another two weeks, but I am hopeful that I will get back to normal.

I hope this thread helps anyone who is thinking about going out to noisy clubs or similar environments.

Four hours of fun can lead to four weeks of agony, nightmares, and fear. It is definitely not worth it. This condition needs to be taken seriously. I learned that the hard way.

I feel a bit sad because there is a new Mission: Impossible movie coming out, but I will just have to wait to watch it at home. I am not going to risk my ears again.

 

[Strife_84]

Just a little update. It has now been a month. I feel slightly better again, but only slightly.

I have noticed that even the sound of my own voice now aggravates my tinnitus, which is really frustrating.

On Monday, I had a very good day, followed by one bad day, and today has been a mixed experience leaning toward the bad side.

That said, the condition is gradually improving. This has definitely been the worst spike I have experienced in the six years I have dealt with this. The irony is that I was wearing earplugs.

I did not even have this bad of a spike the last time I was at the same club without wearing earplugs.

This was also the first time I experienced nausea with a spike. That had never happened before.

Anyway, it is slowly getting better. Still, going to a club was probably the most foolish idea I have ever had.

 

[ErikaS]

@Strife_84, hey there, I do not come on the forum as often as I used to, but I just read through your thread and felt I had to share what I and a few others have experienced with in-ear protection. I am almost certain we are a rare and small group, so what I describe may not apply to everyone or even the majority. Please keep that in mind.

I have bilateral sound reactive tinnitus. It developed after a middle ear infection in my right ear spread to the inner ear, which caused nerve damage and sudden hearing loss in the very high frequencies (September 2022). My tinnitus has remained reactive to sound ever since, although there have been some periods when it was more mildly reactive and not as severe as when it first began.

I also experience other unusual symptoms. For example, when I put my finger in my right ear, the tinnitus sound in my left ear becomes louder. I have come to believe that not only is my central gain overly sensitive, but I also have nerve endings in my ear canals, middle ear, and inner ear that are easily irritated.

With all of that said, I have learned through very difficult experiences that I cannot use in-ear plugs, especially while speaking with them in place. I have tried everything from foam plugs to custom made ones. The combination of the occlusion effect, pressure, and vibrations in the ear canal while talking has been the most consistent trigger for my worst and most prolonged spikes. It causes my tinnitus sounds to intensify, brings back distortions, increases reactivity, and creates a very difficult situation.

The most recent incident occurred in early August 2024, when I was at a neighbor's house with a small group playing games in the basement. That spike took about four months to noticeably settle down, and the first two and a half months were especially difficult. Thankfully, it did eventually stabilize.

So for me, unless I am sitting silently on a plane and not speaking, I cannot use in-ear plugs. I can only use over-the-ear protection, which I rarely rely on these days.

Again, this is just my experience, although a few others have described similar reactions. What stood out most in your post was when you said, "I did not even have this bad of a spike the last time I was at the same club without wearing earplugs." That really caught my attention and may be a sign that you fall into this rare group as well. Only you can determine that for yourself.

It will get better. Give it time, and keep what I shared in mind as a possible explanation for what you are going through.