[moleface]

I've been wearing headphones whenever possible for more than twenty years now. I developed mild tinnitus years ago, but I found that it always got better or went away after taking a break from headphones.
 
I haven't gotten around to re-repairing my full sized open ear headphones, so I've been sticking with IEMs for the last year - which I previously used only for running. I know that my other headphones are better for my hearing, but I'm infatuated with the bass and overall detailing/clarity of IEMS vs open headphones.
 
But after listening to lots of abrasive and bass heavy music loudly on IEMs for almost a year straight, I've suddenly found that my tinnitus is literally ten times worse. Last week I began to hear a constant high pitched tone, and several times the hearing on my right side has gone entirely out for a split second and then slowly faded back in. I can tell that I've really screwed myself this time. I actually have trouble sleeping because the tone is so loud and piercing.
 
I've stopped listening to music altogether for over a week so far, but it hasn't helped yet.
 
Obviously this tinnitus is due to my own idiocy, and I blame myself - but I just wanted to put out a warning to others about IEMs. They seem FAR less forgiving than full sized headphones. Either that, or they just so happened to be the final straw in a lifetime of ear abuse. In either case, I'm screwed.

 

[Radio_head]

IEMs while jogging working out (especially in loud environments) is super dangerous to your hearing.  People tend to turn up volume to block out sound/"get pumped up."  plug the phones into your dap ahead of time and find a decent listening level in the quiet of your own home before your adrenaline starts rushing. 

 

[AyeVeeN]

I already have tinnitus.. I'm 16. Had it since I was like 13 or 14.

 

[Headzone]

I've also been checking my sound levels alot lately.. I usually take my 'phones off after listening for a hour or so, to let my ears rest.

 

[fubar3]

I get tinnitus after taking a 10 minute cat nap on the sofa. It usually goes away after a few hours.  I use headphones to make the distraction less noticeable and to allow me to concentrate on my programming work. I don't listen to loud music since that flattens the response curve of the human ear.  Louder is not better.

 

[jaqueh]

I've had tinnitus since i was like 5, basically for as long as i can remember, and i have read extensively about the subject because my tinnitus never goes away, but if yours does, then that means that it is not permanent yet. tinnitus, a lot of people suspect, is when you have temporary hearing loss and your brain is trying to remap its sound sensors to compensate for some shorts and ends up screwing up and giving you a horrible ringing in your ears, but once you gain your hearing back the brain won't need to do this remapping anymore so the tinnitus goes away as well. So, if yours fades when you stop listening to music as often, then you should try everything in your power to make sure it doesn't become permanent.
 
also, since it sounds like yours is becoming permanent, don't worry you'll get used to it. also, just out of curiosity sake at what frequency can you no longer hear on this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G60hM1W_mk for me its 16khz but i have to increase the volume quite a bit.

 

[BassInMyFace]

If you have insurance, go and see an ENT specialist.  It won't hurt and can only help.  Chances are that since you've listened to loud music for so long, it's unfortunately just cumulative damage - like you said.  Give your ears a longer rest and see if that helps.
 
Also, if you're a chronic asprin user, you may want to try to lay off of that too for some time (unless it is being taken for cardiovascular purposes).  Chronic salicylate use/toxicity can manifest itself as tinnitus and may not be helping if you have hearing damage.

 

[caracara08]

i went to a specialist.  they said nothing is wrong with my hearing and yet i hear a high pitched sound all the time. its worse when quiet or with iems/customs in of course. they really only had two suggestions but nothing to really help the issue.  less caffeine and more exercise. (im not fat but i did put on some extra poudns in the last few years. other than that, they had nothing to help my tinnitus.

 

[pancakeplease]

i swear to god everyone's going to be deaf from our generation. I'm 24 and the past 5 years ive been blasting music directly into my ear canal and going to live concerts without ear plugs. I got permanent damage from 1 particular concert at the age of 17 by standing right in front of the speakers. Ear plugs didnt even cross my mind. I also used IEMs 24/7, back in college going to class, running, gym, rock climbing, sprints, pretty much every day all day. Good to know that it's not just me. 
 
I'd take a hiatus from the IEMs and listen to music over speakers for a while to see if that helps. 

 

[bcasey25raptor]

I have tinnitus but i never notice it. I have to pay really really big attention to hear it. It's ironic when i listen to my fiio e7 on 60 with my shure srh840, or for thread relevance my se215.

 

[caracara08]

Quote:

i swear to god everyone's going to be deaf from our generation. I'm 24 and the past 5 years ive been blasting music directly into my ear canal and going to live concerts without ear plugs. I got permanent damage from 1 particular concert at the age of 17 by standing right in front of the speakers. Ear plugs didnt even cross my mind. I also used IEMs 24/7, back in college going to class, running, gym, rock climbing, sprints, pretty much every day all day. Good to know that it's not just me. 
 
I'd take a hiatus from the IEMs and listen to music over speakers for a while to see if that helps. 

i agree.  ther are gonna be so many ppl with hearing aids later and im not even joking. i should get into the business lol.  for me i dont think i listened too loud until i started using my jh16 during my commute on the metro. 
 
but i have a sensitivity to high pitched sounds i guess. my wife always makes fun of me because when our old dvd player or our crappy printer are on, it emits a high pitched sound that i dont even know if my wife can hear but it bugs the crap out of  me. 

 

[psygeist]

Quote:

i agree.  ther are gonna be so many ppl with hearing aids later and im not even joking.

My ears are ready to get augmented.
 

 

[ubercaffeinated]

Quote:

My ears are ready to get augmented.
 

lol. customs when we're young. customs when we're old. >.>

 

[caracara08]

Quote:

lol. customs when we're young. customs when we're old. >.>

lol "can i get the 5 driver model hearing aid please?"

 

[mironathetin]

Quote:

i went to a specialist.  they said nothing is wrong with my hearing and yet i hear a high pitched sound all the time. its worse when quiet or with iems/customs in of course. they really only had two suggestions but nothing to really help the issue.  less caffeine and more exercise. (im not fat but i did put on some extra poudns in the last few years. other than that, they had nothing to help my tinnitus.

I guess there is more in the ears making noise. Not only tinnitus.
I hear a very high pitched sound in both ears - around 15kHz. I remember this since I was very young (like 4 or 5). This may be the baseline activity of the hearing nerves. I only noted it again, when I started to use ear plugs on a regular bases (in the metro, if I want to read, sometimes in the office or even at night).
 
I also consulted a specialist. He says I have no tinnitus. But the sound gets worse for a while after using headphones.
Things may be different, if your sound is only on one side though.