Sudden Loud Whistle in a Subway Tunnel — Clogged Feeling in Ear

[NeroRay]

I'm really frustrated right now. I have mild hyperacusis and moderate tinnitus, at least in my right ear. I usually protect myself when I'm outside, like at the gym, the mall, or the subway, but I try not to overprotect.

Today I got off the train and walked through the subway tunnel. I was almost at the end, maybe 20 percent left. Since I live in a pretty quiet area, I thought I'd just take my protection out. It wasn't too busy anyway.

About a minute later, I saw a group of three kids talking and showing something to each other. It looked like a leaf or a piece of paper. As I got closer, one of the kids used it to make a whistle sound, which was pretty loud. I tried to plug my ears, but not even a second later another one did it too, and the noise was piercing. Immediately, I felt a tight, strange sensation in my right ear, along with some weird ETD-like symptoms. Can sound even cause ETD? I wasn't aware of that.

This happened more than two hours ago, and it still persists. I don't think my tinnitus has spiked much, if at all yet, but this strange cramp-like feeling hasn't gone away. I'm so frustrated with being afraid of every single noise now.

What are the chances my tinnitus might still spike? I took Magnesium and B12, but unfortunately, I don't have any NAC on hand.

 

[Nick225]

Your anxiety and fear response to the sound they made is more likely the cause of the inner ear cramping, as your inner ear muscles tense up in anticipation of the sound. I experience the same thing but have gotten better at managing it by letting go of that fear and anxiety. If something that might be loud is about to happen, I just let it happen, and more often than not, nothing happens now—no cramping and no tinnitus spike.

If your tinnitus hasn't spiked already, it suggests the sound wasn't loud enough to cause any further issues or damage, so you'll be fine. Just try to relax and take your mind off it. The more you fixate on it, the more you'll prolong the discomfort.

All the best.