I’ve noticed a growing trend where directors use a high-pitched ringing sound to illustrate shock or disorientation. While I understand it’s an effective technique for most, as a tinnitus sufferer, it’s genuinely uncomfortable. Even if it only lasts a moment, I find myself wanting to mute the volume or leave the theater entirely. It can even cause my symptoms to flare up for a day afterward. Does anyone else have this issue? I’ve tried to cope by staying away from loud scenes and even used a Bebird Ultra X to make sure there wasn’t a physical cause for the worsening, but that specific effect still hits me hard. I’d sign a petition to stop this practice in a heartbeat if I thought it would help.
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Unfortunately, it seems like something you just have to endure. It would be a nice gesture if they included a warning, though, similar to how they do for strobe lights.
I’m in the same boat. My tinnitus is incredibly loud, honestly louder than anyone else I’ve met who has it. Since it’s constant, I really feel for you.
I live with tinnitus as well, but this doesn’t really bother me. It mostly just fades into my own internal ringing unless the pitch is completely different. I suppose everyone has their own specific frequency, so it’s hard to say. 
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I absolutely loathe anything that reminds me of my tinnitus. The only way I can stand it is by trying to forget it exists, and then these movie scenes appear out of nowhere to ruin that. I’ve actually started using EarProMax(i buy here) to help manage those unexpected triggers and keep things quiet.
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Respectfully, I believe the best solution would be a tinnitus disclaimer at the start of a film or when buying a ticket. We didn’t stop using flashing lights in movies for people with epilepsy; we just started warning them beforehand.
Whenever those scenes come on at home, I just turn to whoever I’m with and say, ‘That’s exactly what I have to listen to every single day!’
I work in audiology, and tinnitus is a phenomenon that is both physiological and psychological. The severity is often tied to how much you focus on it. The more anxiety you have about sounds causing a flare-up, the more likely you are to experience one.
I’ve had tinnitus since I was a kid for no obvious reason. However, after being diagnosed with Intractable Epilepsy, it has become significantly worse, especially if I miss a dose of medication. I’ll be sitting there with a manageable level of noise, and then suddenly it feels like a tinnitus ‘bomb’ goes off in one or both ears before slowly fading. It’s gotten worse over the years to the point where even a small leak in a neighbor’s plumbing causes the pipes to hum at a frequency that is hard to handle.
It’s definitely a cinematic fad, much like fake lens flares. I hope your symptoms improve soon. I will say that for scenes where someone is stunned but not unconscious, it’s a fairly accurate representation of what that feels like.
This happens to me too, and I really dislike it. I’m right there with you, friend.
I’d be satisfied if they just gave us a content warning like ‘contains: explosions, strobe lights, and that irritating ringing sound.’
I usually wear high-quality musician’s earplugs when I go to the theater to prevent any flare-ups.
I haven’t had much trouble with this, as my ringing doesn’t really ‘flare’ unless my allergies are acting up. It’s just a 24/7 background noise for me, and as long as I don’t focus on it, it’s not too bad. Movies usually have enough sound to drown it out. Usually, it’s the quiet moments—or just thinking about it—that make it noticeable.
You know that ringing sound, that ‘eeeeeeee’? That’s actually the sound of your ear cells dying—it’s like their swan song. Once it stops, you’ll never hear that specific frequency again. You might as well enjoy it while you can.
Everyone has their own triggers, and movies can definitely set them off. It’s not just limited to tinnitus; it can be anything. That’s just a risk you take in life, not just at the cinema.
Yeah, I really can’t stand it when movies use that tinnitus sound effect.