HELP! Ear Ringing / Tinnitus!?

[great_white]

Hello everyone,

I was diving at least once a week steady through August/September/October, when about a month ago as everything got quiet as I was going to sleep, I noticed a ringing in my ears (hard to tell which side it's coming from).

I did NOT have any sort of an event while diving - struggling to equalize, popping or pain or anything.

I didn't think too much of it, but as it persisted through the days and now weeks, I started looking it up online and what I am finding is really freaking me out - tinnitus is/can be for life once you get it.

I went to see a GP last Friday and she said there was some inflammation on the inner ear and no physical damage to the ear drum. She gave me drops and said it should all clear up in days. I was very relieved to hear that, however it's been some time since and the ringing has not subsided at all. I am starting to think that whatever inflammation or infection there is/was, was not the cause of this tinnitus.

My questions is have any of your experienced this?
Have any of you had ringing THAT WENT AWAY at least eventually?
I am getting pretty concerned at the idea that I may have to live the rest of my life with this...

Additionally, would this be a cause to stop diving all together? That is also a horrible thought....

Anyways, let me know what you guys think and if there is still any hope for me lol
I am going to get a referral to an EMT today, which will take weeks to actually schedule. I will keep you guys posted.

 

[BalekFekete]

I have some relatively significant tinnitus and can appreciate how much of a pain in the arse it is. I attribute mine to far too many years in the Walkman(tm) era listening to music far too loudly. To my knowledge, it's not something that goes away but as you said is rather with you for good especially given there is no treatment, let alone cure, for it.

With that said, from what my ENT has told me, it should have zero impact on my ability to continue diving, so there's that at least. Also...can attest that it's something that you do kinda get used to and 'tune out' by and large. Plus, it's a great excuse to use when I don't hear something the Mrs. has asked...silver lining.

 

[davehicks]

It should have no impact on diving, and there is no reason to suspect it was caused by diving.

I have it and most of the time I tune it out. As soon as I read the word "Tinnitus" like on your post I start hearing it again. The best thing to do is try not be bothered by it and just ignore it. If you don't obsess about it, I find it slips in to the back of my perception and goes away.

 

[ibj40]

I, too, suffer from it. Not sure what caused it either. I did race sports cars for a period of time from the mid 70’s to the mid 90’s, but the funny thing is that I suffer in the ear that was towards the inside of the car, away from the open exhaust at the side of the car.

Mine started getting progressively worse in the late 90’s to the point that I had to conscientiously position myself in groups to make sure my good ear was toward the sources of conversation.

I’ve had an MRI that showed nothing structural and taken a number of hearing tests to determine the extent.

In early 2020, a hearing test administered immediately prior to my retirement determined that I am now fully deaf in that ear and experience nothing but the ringing. A hearing aid will not help.

I’ve lived with it so long that, as pointed out above, if I don’t think about it, I don’t “hear” it.

Was very loud while I wrote this reply.

 

[Nemrod]

Hello everyone,

I was diving at least once a week steady through August/September/October, when about a month ago as everything got quiet as I was going to sleep, I noticed a ringing in my ears (hard to tell which side it's coming from).

I did NOT have any sort of an event while diving - struggling to equalize, popping or pain or anything.

I didn't think too much of it, but as it persisted through the days and now weeks, I started looking it up online and what I am finding is really freaking me out - tinnitus is/can be for life once you get it.

I went to see a GP last Friday and she said there was some inflammation on the inner ear and no physical damage to the ear drum. She gave me drops and said it should all clear up in days. I was very relieved to hear that, however it's been some time since and the ringing has not subsided at all. I am starting to think that whatever inflammation or infection there is/was, was not the cause of this tinnitus.

My questions is have any of your experienced this?
Have any of you had ringing THAT WENT AWAY at least eventually?
I am getting pretty concerned at the idea that I may have to live the rest of my life with this...

Additionally, would this be a cause to stop diving all together? That is also a horrible thought....

Anyways, let me know what you guys think and if there is still any hope for me lol
I am going to get a referral to an EMT today, which will take weeks to actually schedule. I will keep you guys posted.

I have mild tinuitus. It is caused for me by riding motorcycles, jet and aircraft engines, guns and to some extent music that might have been too loud . Some things can exacerbate the condition such as infections or high blood pressure and exposure again to loud noises.

I mentioned blood pressure but there are other conditions that can cause or make it worse, even caffeine which I refused to give up, never!!!!! Some medications can also. I take no meds and I have no illnesses or high blood pressure but these are things to investigate if it came on suddenly.

It is unlikely that the condition has anything specific to do with SCUBA diving except that bubbles exploding by your ears can irritate tinnitus. I have to wear earplugs when I swim laps along with a swim cap because the bubbles from my exhalation makes my ears ring after a mile swim. SCUBA diving with some regulators does the same thing even worse. Note that I mostly dive a double hose regulator which exhausts the bubbles well behind my head and ears and thus does not irratate the condition. After I dive with a single hose regulator my ears sometimes ring, especially if I dive a lot with a single hose, as in over a vacation trip. You may try to observe if your regulator exhaust bubbles are pounding the c---p out of your ears? Wear a hood or neoprene beanie might help. For lap swimming I use vented ear plugs and a swim cap.

I have found that playing the television (not to watch) or playing my turntables in the background when things are quiet help to cover the ringing. Also gentle white noise. It is hard not to crank AC DC up . You may just have to learn how to live with it.

James

 

[mcpowell]

Great…now I hear my ears ringing.

You’ll get used to it. I’ve had it for years. Diving makes mine worse, but then it goes back to normal. Just think of it as your own private symphony of cicadas all year long.

 

[Bratface]

My ears have been ringing for over 40 years. It doesn't affect my diving, in fact, I don't hear it underwater. I progressed to hearing loss for whatever reason (probably rock concerts and Harley Davidsons over the years) and wear hearing aids which don't really help. There are hearing devices for tinnitus. Might be worthwhile to see an ENT specialist or an audiologist and get it checked out.

 

[Gone for diving]

Just a suggestion,
but my sister who is a nurse, had similar problems a week or two after she got her vaccine, she had not dived for a year, was young and healthy, It is a side effect of the vaccine,
don't know if it applies in your case..

 

[great_white]

Just a suggestion,
but my sister who is a nurse, had similar problems a week or two after she got her vaccine, she had not dived for a year, was young and healthy, It is a side effect of the vaccine,
don't know if it applies in your case..

Very interesting (and concerning), but no, vaccine is not relevant in my case.

Thank you guys for your responses!

 

[clownfishsydney]

I have had it for 20 years since I hurt my ear on a dive. Only really notice it when it is quiet. You get used to it.