Tinnitus and Ear Pain After Loud Music with AirPods Pro

[Headphone Tini]

I have tinnitus, ear fullness, and pain in my right ear after listening to loud music while drunk using my AirPods Pro.

I was hoping it would subside in a couple of days, but it does not seem to be getting better. When I checked the headphone exposure tracker on my iPhone, it showed that I was exposed to 89 dB for 2 hours and 45 minutes. I do use my headphones a lot and spend a significant amount of time on work calls. My total headphone use for the month is 77 dB over 2 days and 12 hours. Over the past 6 months, my exposure has been 69 dB for a total of 15 hours across 23 days.

I went to the doctor today, and she said she could not see any issue with my ears. She advised that it will take time to settle.

I have health anxiety, so I am posting here in the hope that others have had similar experiences and recovered.

 

[moldyberry]

This happened to me too , did they check your ears to see if theyre clean?

 

[Headphone Tini]

Yeah, the doctor said there was no wax or infection. Just told me to take it easy and try to relax, avoid loud noises, and so on.

How loud and for how long were you listening with AirPods?

 

[PeteJ]

I parked next to a car, and the driver suddenly turned up his music. His window was down. Normally, I park far away from other people. I do not know why I changed my routine this time.

Now I am really experiencing a spike. Has anyone else ever done this or had something similar happen? I am just wondering if the spike goes down for most people.

I took Magnesium and NAC afterward.
I really hope someone replies. I would appreciate any feedback on this.

For context, I never use headphones to listen to music, and I never play music loudly, whether at home or anywhere else. I was not thinking about the possibility of anything happening when I got out of the car. That is usually when the worst incidents happen, when I am not prepared or my guard is down.

I was not wearing earplugs because I have had to stop using them at times. My ears and ear canals have been getting really sore from wearing them too often. They were in pain. Maybe now I am going too far in the other direction by not wearing them at all. I do not know.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

 

[Sonia554]

I parked next to a car, and the driver suddenly turned up his music. His window was down. Normally, I park far away from other people. I do not know why I changed my routine this time.

Now I am really experiencing a spike. Has anyone else ever done this or had something similar happen? I am just wondering if the spike goes down for most people.

I took Magnesium and NAC afterward.
I really hope someone replies. I would appreciate any feedback on this.

For context, I never use headphones to listen to music, and I never play music loudly, whether at home or anywhere else. I was not thinking about the possibility of anything happening when I got out of the car. That is usually when the worst incidents happen, when I am not prepared or my guard is down.

I was not wearing earplugs because I have had to stop using them at times. My ears and ear canals have been getting really sore from wearing them too often. They were in pain. Maybe now I am going too far in the other direction by not wearing them at all. I do not know.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

How are you doing now? I'm sorry you haven't received any replies.

I spiked in early July after being caught outside when the monthly tornado siren test started. The tower was only about 100 feet away from me, but the spike came down after about two weeks, and my overall tinnitus level is lower today than it was before that happened. An exposure like that will rarely cause new damage or permanently worsen your tinnitus. It can take a few hours, days, or even weeks to settle, but it usually does.

Sometimes the anxiety over the possibility of a spike can actually bring one on. When something like that happens, try to shift your thoughts to something else as quickly as possible. Don't let your brain get locked in emotionally, and if a spike does occur, remind yourself that it will go away. Staying calm is really important.

 

[PeteJ]

How are you doing now? I'm sorry you haven't received any replies.

I spiked in early July after being caught outside when the monthly tornado siren test started. The tower was only about 100 feet away from me, but the spike came down after about two weeks, and my overall tinnitus level is lower today than it was before that happened. An exposure like that will rarely cause new damage or permanently worsen your tinnitus. It can take a few hours, days, or even weeks to settle, but it usually does.

Sometimes the anxiety over the possibility of a spike can actually bring one on. When something like that happens, try to shift your thoughts to something else as quickly as possible. Don't let your brain get locked in emotionally, and if a spike does occur, remind yourself that it will go away. Staying calm is really important.

I'm trying… things settled down after that event, but the latest incidents involved a truck in an underground garage and then a dog barking loudly in an apartment I was in.

I keep finding myself in situations where it gets loud. That's just life, but there are probably times when I should err on the side of caution and avoid those places.

I'd like to visit a barber, but I'm not sure if I should yet. Would it be safe if I wore earplugs for most of it, or should I wait several days or even weeks? I've even thought about buying the quietest clippers I can find and just cutting my hair myself.

I thought my spike was improving. It has lessened in severity a couple of times, but the recent incidents caused new spikes. I'm worried about these setbacks, although nothing has been as bad as the truck so far, even though the dog was pretty loud.

Thanks for replying!

 

[Sonia554]

I'm trying… things settled down after that event, but the latest incidents involved a truck in an underground garage and then a dog barking loudly in an apartment I was in.

I keep finding myself in situations where it gets loud. That's just life, but there are probably times when I should err on the side of caution and avoid those places.

I'd like to visit a barber, but I'm not sure if I should yet. Would it be safe if I wore earplugs for most of it, or should I wait several days or even weeks? I've even thought about buying the quietest clippers I can find and just cutting my hair myself.

I thought my spike was improving. It has lessened in severity a couple of times, but the recent incidents caused new spikes. I'm worried about these setbacks, although nothing has been as bad as the truck so far, even though the dog was pretty loud.

Thanks for replying!

What originally started your tinnitus? It looks like you have been on these boards for quite some time.

Can you ask the barber to use scissors instead of clippers? I cannot imagine clippers being very good so close to your ears. Maybe it is time to consider a new hairstyle?

 

[PeteJ]

What originally started your tinnitus? It looks like you have been on these boards for quite some time.

Can you ask the barber to use scissors instead of clippers? I cannot imagine clippers being very good so close to your ears. Maybe it is time to consider a new hairstyle?

Noise over time—loud noise—and eventually, I developed tinnitus. Then really loud events spiked it, and it ultimately got worse to where it is today.

Unfortunately, I let my facial hair grow out, so now I have a beard. I don't know if scissors alone would remove it all or even most of it. I know I could buy a brand of clippers that is pretty quiet, but they cost about $150 (used), compared to around $20 to get it done at a barber. The problem is that barbers usually use "professional" brands that are noisier. I'm thinking I may have to come up with the money and then just deal with having low funds for the month, because I watched a video about the quiet brand and it really does seem quiet. It would probably work well for me. Unfortunately, I know the barber doesn't use that brand.

A haircut is another story. Yes, they can mostly use scissors, and I've had that type of cut before, so it's not much of an issue.

 

[Sydnears]

Noise over time—loud noise—and eventually, I developed tinnitus. Then really loud events spiked it, and it ultimately got worse to where it is today.

Unfortunately, I let my facial hair grow out, so now I have a beard. I don't know if scissors alone would remove it all or even most of it. I know I could buy a brand of clippers that is pretty quiet, but they cost about $150 (used), compared to around $20 to get it done at a barber. The problem is that barbers usually use "professional" brands that are noisier. I'm thinking I may have to come up with the money and then just deal with having low funds for the month, because I watched a video about the quiet brand and it really does seem quiet. It would probably work well for me. Unfortunately, I know the barber doesn't use that brand.

A haircut is another story. Yes, they can mostly use scissors, and I've had that type of cut before, so it's not much of an issue.

I don't think you need to worry about clippers or getting a haircut. If you are concerned, you could simply use noise-cancelling earbuds.