Recently Developed Loudness Hyperacusis After Acoustic Trauma — Worsened Tinnitus/Hyperacusis by Methylprednisolone

[delta784]

@delta784, what happened at the barber shop?

I had mild tinnitus and wasn't expecting the barber to use his old hair dryer, which blasted directly into my right ear canal. Afterward, I developed loudness hyperacusis, ear pain, and leakage that lasted for 2–3 weeks. The ENT suggested it might have been an acoustic shock.

Two weeks later, overwhelmed with anxiety and doom-scrolling online, I got scared and decided to try Methylprednisolone in case there was any inflammation. I consulted the ENT, and she mentioned it could be administered via an injection in the arm for better effectiveness. I took two doses of 60 milligrams.

Unfortunately, after the second dose, I developed bilateral tinnitus and several other issues, including noxacusis and visual snow syndrome. My tinnitus went from being a 1/10 to a 7/10. My mild hyperacusis, which likely would have resolved on its own, spiraled into something much worse due to my health anxiety and overreaction.

Now, I feel incredibly depressed. I feel like I damaged my brain, neurotransmitters, or thalamus—whatever it might be. My life has turned completely upside down. I had a precious family and a five-year relationship, and everything was on track. Now, it feels like hell, and I've become suicidal over something that initially seemed mild and manageable.

 

[Jupiterman]

That is certainly a dreadful double-whammy!

First, the old hairdryer incident, followed by your attempt to improve with medication—something that has helped others.

I truly feel for you, brother.

You absolutely did not deserve this.

Let's hold onto hope that these symptoms will calm down over the next few months.

 

[Possum]

I hope you're right about things "getting worse before getting better." I'm about five months in. Initially, I only had a medium-soft buzz with an occasional flute tone, and I was starting to get used to it. However, after three months, I developed two additional sharper, louder tones, all in one ear.

Can I still expect any improvement?

Did something specific happen that caused those two additional tones to appear, or did they start on their own?

 

[delta784]

Did something specific happen that caused those two additional tones to appear, or did they start on their own?

For real, nothing happened.

That is certainly a dreadful double-whammy!

First, the old hairdryer incident, followed by your attempt to improve with medication—something that has helped others.

I truly feel for you, brother.

You absolutely did not deserve this.

Let's hold onto hope that these symptoms will calm down over the next few months.

Thank you, @Jupiterman. I shouldn't have taken that medication, and I blame myself every single day. Living with this condition, along with severe OCD and anxiety, is pure hell. My noxacusis has also worsened. It even flared up after spending time with my girlfriend at home. I don't know what to do anymore—I'm only 29, not even 30.

In the first month, I had moderate tinnitus. By the second month, I developed visual snow syndrome after a panic attack. In the third month, I got noxacusis and reactive symptoms. I've never had a chance to feel stable. I don't enjoy anything anymore, and it feels like I'm losing everything I've ever known.

I was always a very cautious person, even after living with mild tinnitus for years. It was so mild I couldn't even hear it while sleeping. I miss my old self. Even my vision isn't the same anymore. I could have been okay with stable, moderate tinnitus—maybe I would have habituated eventually. But with the added noxacusis and ear pain, it's unbearable.

 

[Fazdoll]

The tones started on their own, and I don't believe I had any noise exposure. I did take a couple of online hearing tests, but I'm not sure if that could have triggered anything.

 

[kap]

Hey, just chiming in to share my experience. After taking a dose of Prednisone, I developed much louder tinnitus and Eustachian tube dysfunction. I noticed cracking sounds when swallowing the evening after my first dose, so I completely understand what you are going through; you are not crazy.

I also struggle with high anxiety. Meditation and body scan practices have been really helpful for me, especially since I have not tolerated medications well.

From my experience, tinnitus tends to get better with time. It might decrease in volume, go away, or your brain may learn to tune it out and stop paying as much attention to it. Right now, I am dealing with a spike caused by going to a concert, even though I used ear protection. It has been rough and depressing, but I have had spikes before and know that, eventually, things will either calm down or I will adjust to a new normal.

Hang in there, it does get better.

How are you doing now? Did your Eustachian tube dysfunction get better? I took a week of Prednisone for mild hearing loss after a loud event, and it caused an increase in my longtime mild tinnitus, hyperacusis, and terrible Eustachian tube dysfunction.

The Prednisolone did NOT CAUSE your tinnitus. Noise exposure did. It can be a one-time event or, more commonly, accumulate over time.

Let it go...

I'm having the same kind of reaction. I took Prednisone, and now I have louder tinnitus, hyperacusis, and severe Eustachian tube dysfunction. It was definitely caused by the Prednisone and one intratympanic injection of Dexamethasone.

I'm currently seeking second opinions from Stanford and Mass General, and I'm also going to see a rheumatologist. There has to be a reason for this. Maybe a side effect triggered by the steroids is causing these ear symptoms.

But I have no doubt that all of my symptoms are directly related to the steroids.

 

[delta784]

How are you doing now? Did your Eustachian tube dysfunction get better? I took a week of Prednisone for mild hearing loss after a loud event, and it caused an increase in my longtime mild tinnitus, hyperacusis, and terrible Eustachian tube dysfunction.

I'm having the same kind of reaction. I took Prednisone, and now I have louder tinnitus, hyperacusis, and severe Eustachian tube dysfunction. It was definitely caused by the Prednisone and one intratympanic injection of Dexamethasone.

I'm currently seeking second opinions from Stanford and Mass General, and I'm also going to see a rheumatologist. There has to be a reason for this. Maybe a side effect triggered by the steroids is causing these ear symptoms.

But I have no doubt that all of my symptoms are directly related to the steroids.

Of course, you cannot know more than @Nick47 from the Tinnitus Talk forum. He clearly understands your body better than you do.

 

[trevl]

But Nick, I'm only 29, and I want to enjoy the things I used to before—traveling, eating, seeing new places, talking to my girlfriend over the phone, making jokes, and more. Now, I can't find any joy in these things. I feel like I'm finished inside. How can I overcome this? My previously healthy left ear seems to have worsened; it doesn't feel healthy anymore.

You have damaged your hearing cells.

This kind of damage is progressive and tends to increase with age due to cumulative exposure to everyday sounds. You have not finished damaging your hearing cells. Further damage is still likely.

You should aim to limit your exposure to noise levels below 70 dB. The "mild tinnitus" you previously described should have been a warning sign to begin seriously protecting your ears from excessive noise.

You need to change your everyday behavior.

Avoid noisy environments whenever possible. If you must be in them, use serious hearing protection. You can use a phone app to measure the sound levels in your surroundings.

Keep in mind that 70 dB is the threshold where hearing damage begins. That means many common activities that may seem harmless are not safe for your ears; traveling in cars or buses, cycling, being outside on a windy day, walking through busy shopping malls, or standing near traffic are just a few examples.

It also seems like the damage to your ears may not be symmetrical. If that is the case, masking or TRT strategies might not work effectively for you.