Sudden hearing issues...

[AmpliFIRE]

I've suddenly developed some hearing issues over the past 3 weeks. At first i thought it was just an ear infection, but it keeps coming back. I went to the Doctor, who gave me antibiotic ear drops, but it's returned 3 times so far. The problem is in my right ear, and it sounds like there is a sea shell cupped over it with a subtle high pitched tone in the background. Could this be the beginning of Tinnitus? I play my amps pretty damn loud for about 30 minutes every day (on the average...sometimes more and sometimes less) while standing somewhat close to them. I went back to the Dr again today and he gave me an oral antibiotic as well as a nasal spray to clear out my passages.

 

[EvilBatman]

Yes it could be Tinnitus. I've been dealing with this in both ears for about a year now.

The sea shell sound leads me to believe that you may either have wax deep in your ear or something with your ear drum because that sounds pretty much like what I went through. My right ear drum was partially sucked in due to sinus issues. That's cleared up SOMEWHAT but I still have some strong ringing in both ears. My overall hearing is good with my thresholds being fine but I do have some loss in the upper ranges which as the Audiologist told me, looks like noise induced tinnitus.

Have your doctor set you up with hearing test, buy some GOOD quality ear plugs like Etymotic (http://www.etymotic.com they're cheap on Amazon) and start protecting your hearing! You'd be surprised how everyday sounds after time can mess up you're hearing.

I hope you're problems pass.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Yes it could be Tinnitus. I've been dealing with this in both ears for about a year now.

The sea shell sound leads me to believe that you may either have wax deep in your ear or something with your ear drum because that sounds pretty much like what I went through. My right ear drum was partially sucked in due to sinus issues. That's cleared up SOMEWHAT but I still have some strong ringing in both ears. My overall hearing is good with my thresholds being fine but I do have some loss in the upper ranges which as the Audiologist told me, looks like noise induced tinnitus.

Have your doctor set you up with hearing test, buy some GOOD quality ear plugs like Etymotic (http://www.etymotic.com they're cheap on Amazon) and start protecting your hearing! You'd be surprised how everyday sounds after time can mess up you're hearing.

I hope you're problems pass.

Thanks for the reply! Do those ear plugs truly preserve fidelity?

My doctor advised that if it doesn't clear up within a week then he'll send me to an ENT Doctor for further testing...

 

[VoodooChild24]

Must be the amps!!

 

[EvilBatman]

The Etymotics do a really good job to me. I can hear everything clearly just at a lower volume. There's a bit of a bass increase but nothing too much.

Another thing, do you drink a lot of caffeine? Or are you on any meds? There's something like 200+ types of medication that can cause Tinnitus and so can caffeine. High Blood Pressure too. Aspirin can be a big culprit as well.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

The Etymotics do a really good job to me. I can hear everything clearly just at a lower volume. There's a bit of a bass increase but nothing too much.

Another thing, do you drink a lot of caffeine? Or are you on any meds? There's something like 200+ types of medication that can cause Tinnitus and so can caffeine. High Blood Pressure too. Aspirin can be a big culprit as well.

Interesting....I'm actually a pretty big coffee drinker AND I'm on BP Meds as well. My BP is under control with the meds, but it was just barely in the high range before I started taking them.

 

[jack butler]

Listen to your doctor and wait a week to see if it passes. I myself jump to conclusions whenever somethings wrong, but it nevers turns out be anything major. If it clears up, and I'm sure it will you have to start using ear protection because repeated exposure will lead to hearing loss. Think positive, I know it's very easy to think the worst, but until you've met with a specialist you don't know if you really have tinnitus.

 

[ratter]

I have what you're describing (the seashell thing) happen to me every so often. Pretty infrequently though - maybe once a year? What I experience that I think of more as tinnitus is a constant fairly-loud ringing. 24/7/365 - always present and noticeable if some decent ambient noise isn't there to drown it out. I've had that for years and years. It's a bitch. You really don't appreciate hearing or eyesight until shit starts to go wrong! Good luck getting it sorted...

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Must be the amps!!

BTW, this Avenger is just a sick, sick sounding amp

 

[Greazygeo]

It may not help, but I had something similar and it was ear wax related and also something inside clogging up. My doctor recommended using Halls cough drops. They worked for me, but I had to keep using them for quite awhile. Eventually it cleared up and I have not had any problems in a long time now. I know how frustrating it can be.

 

[John4021]

It may not help, but I had something similar and it was ear wax related and also something inside clogging up. My doctor recommended using Halls cough drops. They worked for me, but I had to keep using them for quite awhile. Eventually it cleared up and I have not had any problems in a long time now. I know how frustrating it can be.

So...ah...how many of them did the doctor say to shove in each ear?

 

[Anonymous]

I also have tinnitus but what you're describing sounds like an ear wax buildup problem which I also inherited. I experience the sea shell thing as you put it from time to time. If a ball of wax hits your eardrum it produces the same high pitched annoying squeal until removed. The absolute best remedy for this problem in my experience is an ear syringe.

If the ringing is still there after the wax is removed it's a safe bet you're developing tinnitus. Hope for your sake this isn't the case. Good luck.

 

[CharFace]

Here's to wishing a speedy recovery

Do yourself a huge favor and atleast look into some good quality plugs, I know there are plugs outh there designed to cut db only, and preserve quality/fidelity/freq. resp. as well as possible.

I find that I cannot hear a damn thing over about 12000 Hz. It is not a big deal I don't think, but then again I don't know what I might be missing. Audiologists (3 of them) have attributed this to me being a drummer through college and not wearing any hearing protection.

 

[guitarslinger]

boil some water

let cool

add white vinegar

water:vinegar = 10-1 ratio.

Flush your ears with this solution using an ear syringe. After a few minutes of this, a BIG yellow plug about the size of a pencil eraser will shoot out of your ear. It's one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done. amazing. MY ENT gave me this remedy, btw.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Thanks for the replies! My Dr looked at my ear with an Otoscope and said it was clear. Could it be possible that he wasn't able to see some small particles near my ear drum?

 

[mightyjoeyoungxnj]

Had a similar issue bro and he used the syringe to cleanse my ear canal. Cleared a lot up but I still have tinnitus that isn't going anywhere! It sucks, but I've adapted to it pretty well. I'm just very sensitive to certain high pitched frequencies.

-Joe

 

[itsme]

Join the club. I think my right ear is finally shot. After every gig and rehearsal for the past 2 months, my right ear does just what you descibed for about 4 days. If I cover each ear one at a time and snap next to it, I can tell that my left ear is noticably louder. It sucks, but I can only blame myself. Too many loud amps for too long. I even got a good set of Hearos, ear plugs a couple of weeks ago, but cannot use them. Although I can still hear with them, I loose all the articulation and clarity. I just make sure now when I practice alone, I keep a lower volume. I used to practice full throttle.

 

[Greazygeo]

It may not help, but I had something similar and it was ear wax related and also something inside clogging up. My doctor recommended using Halls cough drops. They worked for me, but I had to keep using them for quite awhile. Eventually it cleared up and I have not had any problems in a long time now. I know how frustrating it can be.

So...ah...how many of them did the doctor say to shove in each ear?

Yeah that did sound funny. It was something in my inner ear that was plugged. Some kind of passage that drains into the throat/ esophagus area. I sure got sick of eating Halls though.

 

[Greazygeo]

Could you have water on the insode of your ear due to a small infection?

FWIW, I have tinnitus bad. When my head hits the pillow I hear a bad ring, but believe it or not I am use to it until.. I think about it. It was from years of playing through 100 watt Marshalls with no ear protection.

i have that as well. Mine is due to drummers and their freakin pie pans.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

Could you have water on the insode of your ear due to a small infection?

I'm really hoping that's what it is. This is why my Dr. gave me an oral antibiotic as well as nose spray and Mucinex D. It's better today, but not great. If this doesn't cure it in a week than I'll be off to see a specialist.