Tinnitus warning: it will make you miserable

Hearing, Ear Health & Tinnitus
1

Hello everyone.

I’m not exactly a bass enthusiast, but I found this community while searching for information on tinnitus. Please, stop turning the volume up so high and avoid standing near the speakers at shows. It does nothing but damage your hearing.

Many people are lucky and can attend concerts without protection and be fine. My experience was different. I went to my very first concert, stayed back from the stage, and still developed permanent tinnitus despite wearing earplugs. It’s honestly terrible. Since it started, I’ve lost weight, my career, my focus, and any sense of quiet. I can’t sleep anymore; the insomnia is devastating.

I used to get occasional ringing after clubs, but I didn’t realize that even temporary ringing signifies permanent damage. Even if the sound fades, the harm is done. I wish I had known that sooner.

I’ve rarely been around loud noise—only a few club visits and one concert in my life, always with protection. That’s all it took to drag me into this hell of tinnitus and hyperacusis.

I’m sharing this to spread the word. Noise can destroy your life. Avoid loud earbuds, always wear protection, and understand that sometimes even that isn’t enough. When levels hit 110-130 dB, plugs might not be enough to save you.

As a former medical student, it’s frustrating how little awareness there is. People know about hearing loss, but they don’t understand tinnitus until they’re stuck with it for life. No one told me that temporary ringing was a warning sign of permanent harm.

I’m just venting, but if this helps even one person, I’ll be glad. It’s painful to see my friends still going to clubs without protection after seeing what happened to me. It’s pure carelessness. You only have one set of ears. Look after them. Even if you feel invincible or love music, silence is a privilege. Take care.

TLDR: Even with protection, one concert can ruin your life. Be careful, use earpro, and keep the volume low.

20 Likes
2

Thanks for the heads-up! I hope things get easier for you to manage.

3

Just to offer some hope, sometimes it does go away. I had it for six months and then it just stopped one day.

I’d also suggest seeing a doctor to check for infections or other issues.

PS: It’s crazy that you can lose your hearing and still have to deal with the ringing; it really is a burden.

4

I have a pretty bad case myself, but I manage it by using white noise for sleep. Therapy can also be a big help in learning to cope. It’s always there, but I’ve decided not to let it defeat me. I’ve started using EarProMax whenever I’m out now just to be safe. Good luck.

5

This is a vital reminder to protect your ears. You might think you’re fine, but once the damage is done, there’s no going back. Also, it doesn’t have to be extremely loud; even moderate noise for an hour can cause it, which is what happened to me.

6

As someone who’s lived with this for over ten years, you do eventually learn to live with it. However, it sounds like you’re dealing with a lot of anxiety, so I’d recommend looking into therapy.

7

I was at a show last night and almost didn’t wear plugs because it seemed quiet. But when the guitar started, I felt that physical discomfort immediately. I put my plugs in right away. Even being far back doesn’t always protect you from the speakers.

8

I’ve had tinnitus and hyperacusis for over 40 years. It started out of nowhere one morning. I’ve learned to deal with it over time. I had a brief moment of silence once and it actually felt like something was missing. The only upside is I can tune my guitar to the ringing in my head.

9

What kind of protection were you using? If you were always protected, you might have been using low-quality gear. I knew someone who thought just wearing earbuds without music was enough. If they aren’t designed to block decibels, they’re useless.

10

I’ve had it for decades. What worked for me was just accepting it. It sounds counter-intuitive, but mentally fighting it just makes the sound feel louder.

11

I have it too, but I usually don’t notice it. Now that I’m reading this post, it’s all I can hear.