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Ear ringing after rock concert

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Hydrogen Bluebird

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Hey GAF, I attended a rock concert the other day (Aug. 13th) and I was in the front/near some speakers.

Right after the concert ended, I noticed my hearing was a little off/muffled but it normalized after a few minutes.

I was able to get home and then sleep about 3 hours after the concert ended and I didn't notice any ear ringing. After waking up however, I noticed that there was ringing in my ears (can't tell which ear or if both) and the ringing continued throughout the day. I woke up this morning and the ringing was still there (so it's been 24+ hours already) but I do think it has subsided a little bit/is less audible (not sure though).

Has anyone had a similar experience? How long did it take before the ringing disappeared? I hope this isn't permanent (I don't want to add this to my other medical conditions). I don't really go to many rock concerts and I always try to keep the volume in the middle-levels when using earphones. I don't know if it's related but I also have nasal congestion and currently using a nasal spray for it.

I will probably see a doctor tomorrow if it doesn't improve/disappear.

GAF?
 
Get custom earplugs.

You lost some hearing permanently from that concert, so if you plan on doing the same in the future, make sure you are protected.
 
I've gone to many shows this year, the ringing is normal for being so close to a speaker. I've personally had the ringing for a week until it went away.

If you end up going to any more shows, pick up some cheap ear plugs ideally 30 db reduction... any protection is better than none.
 
Went to a few concerts years ago. That and too many parties at clubs and I have constant ringing. Low level but I'll probably be wearing a hearing aid by 60. What?
 
Give it a day or two, it could go away. If you sill have it a few weeks though, enjoy it for the rest of your life.
 
F0rneus said:
Isn't that tinnitus? Yes it's permanent if that's the case. Sorry OP T_T
Click to expand...

Don't worry OP you're not gonna get tinnitus from going to one rock show. I've been to metal shows where I am right in front of the 4 foot tall speaker and have come back just fine.

Your ears will be sore and ring for a while. Some people have it for a few hours, others a day, others a couple days. Eventually the ringing will stop and you'll be mostly back to normal.

I have noticed over the past six years since I've been going to rock/metal shows my hearing ability has decreased by a fairly significant amount. Not drastically so, but noticeable. I should prolly invest in earplugs.
 
The ringing will fade a lot (although it may never go 100% away) but you have likely permanently damaged your hearing a little bit. Wear earplugs next time.
 
I couldn't hear for about four days after a Ramones concert back in 94. They weren't particularly loud that night I think the acoustics of the place made them louder.
 
I was dragged to a Slayer concert and I couldn't hear properly for three days afterwards. I hate Slayer. Even more now.
 
I've had it for a week after a concert before. I quit listening to earbuds because I would occasionally get ringing from that as well. I don't want tinnitus, that sounds like the worst thing ever.
 
Even the shitty, cheap, foam plugs from the drugstore will help you. A lot. The typical ones reduce the noise by 30db I think?

Hearing loss can start around 90-95db for prolonged or repeated exposure. Average rock concert is 110 and above, so the 30db drug store earplugs are bringing you under or close to the threshold. Definitely worth it. I've been to a handful of concerts without earplugs, but try to have them as often as possible.
 
You're already deaf.
Actually it's perfectly normal. Back in the day I'd often have ringing ears for a day or so after a loud gig. Loudest one I think I ever saw was Cheap Trick in London about 25 years back with Iron Maiden at the same venue, the old Hammersmith Odeon, a few years earlier a close second. My hearing is still in really good condition after years of abuse so I wouldn't worry about it too much OP unless it lasts more than a few days.
 
Happend to me after a week of concert including front row ratatat and pendulum.
The ringing took months to completly disapear.
I don't attend gigs without earplugs now.
 
Will likely return to normal, but some damage was done regardless. Don't worry about it and it should go away.

This is your lesson to wear earplugs next time lest the ringing become permanent though.
 
As others have stated, it may go away, but there's a chance it'll lessen in intensity and be there for the rest of your life.

You should always wear earplugs whenever you go to any concert. I use these, which don't stick out from my ears and are basically not even noticeable:

http://www.earplugstore.com/alpine-musicsafe-classic-ear-plugs.html

Musician's earplugs will try to attenuate all frequencies in such a way that the sound isn't muffled. They work great and even improve the sound in crappy venues.
 
I've had this numerous times thanks to Swans shows. Eventually I started taking it seriously.

PROTECT YOUR HEARING PEOPLE. BUY EARPLUGS FFS.
 
I believe i got my tinnitus from a mixture of a sinus infection coupled with a bottle going pop near my head.

Tinnitus can often be caused by nasal or sinus problems so whilst it could be indicative of damage from all that noise (wear earplugs in future) it could also be directly related to that nasal problem you're treating and may disappear when that does.

Only time will tell, but if it is (permanent) tinnitus you'll get over it eventually as your mind accepts it.
 
Hydrogen Bluebird said:
Hey GAF, I attended a rock concert the other day (Aug. 13th) and I was in the front/near some speakers.

Right after the concert ended, I noticed my hearing was a little off/muffled but it normalized after a few minutes.

I was able to get home and then sleep about 3 hours after the concert ended and I didn't notice any ear ringing. After waking up however, I noticed that there was ringing in my ears (can't tell which ear or if both) and the ringing continued throughout the day. I woke up this morning and the ringing was still there (so it's been 24+ hours already) but I do think it has subsided a little bit/is less audible (not sure though).

Has anyone had a similar experience? How long did it take before the ringing disappeared? I hope this isn't permanent (I don't want to add this to my other medical conditions). I don't really go to many rock concerts and I always try to keep the volume in the middle-levels when using earphones. I don't know if it's related but I also have nasal congestion and currently using a nasal spray for it.

I will probably see a doctor tomorrow if it doesn't improve/disappear.

GAF?
Click to expand...

OP, don't freak out.

I saw The Prodigy a few weeks back — notorious for being one of, if not the loudest and most aurally punishing
/epic
bands out there. I was front row, and my ears were muffled and ringing (like in the movies when an explosion happens) for nearly a month.

Guess what? They're completely fine now. I even did a frequency test to check I hadn't damaged them too seriously and everything was normal.

You're probably fine!
 
PJ-AQ740_LAB_G_20090803161258.jpg


Hair cells, magnified 21,000 times, line the inside of the shell-like cochlea of the inner ear. Damage to these cells, which can’t regenerate, is a major cause of irreversible hearing loss in many people.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204563304574320823841860910.html
Click to expand...
Look after your hearing people! The damage is irreversible.

For now at least, who knows what scientists will come up with in the future when it comes to advancements in healing

Also don't worry too much, I'm sure it takes years of hardcore rocking to get serious hearing damage.
 
Persona86 said:
Look after your hearing people! The damage is irreversible.

For now at least, who knows what scientists will come up with in the future when ti comes to advancements in healing
Click to expand...

That's amazing. Looks like it was a photo taken underwater!
 
Posted about this in a tinnitus thread recently. I saw The Darkness without earplugs and was pretty confident I had developed it afterwards but fortunately it just lasted for a few days before going away (or at least before being mostly imperceptible). I saw Sleigh Bells later and made sure to bring ear plugs and will definitely be doing so at all future shows where I'm nervous about possible issues.
 
I saw Orbital once in a small club, and my ears didn't stop ringing for 3 days. It scared the shit out of me. That was my wake-up call to wear earplugs no matter what, especially in small venues. Yeah, it sucks, but I'm not going to lose my hearing just so I can rock out to "Satan" better.
 
I basically lost my hearing after a slipknot concert in college. I was probably at 10% hearing for a good week, week and a half. it the most terrifying thing thats ever happened to me. one morning I woke up, my ears were clear, but still ringing. I could hear for the most part. I still have tinnitus though. it sucks

edit : I always wear ear plugs at shows. this was one night I was way drunk before the show and forgot my ear plugs and ended up 3 deep from the speakers.
 
It will most likely disappear in around three days. However, as other people have told, the beeping is a sign that damage has already been done. If the beeping doesn't disappear: congratulations with tinnitus! Get a fan to sleep to.
 
The ringing is always so annoying after a concert. Especially when you want to move on to something later on in the evening.
 
OP, get yourself some Hearos.
C4WWnOZ.jpg


A percussionist friend of mine introduced me to these when I had to sit not more than two feet in front of a loud trumpet player for two weeks. I later took them to a rock concert, and they worked marvelously. They're only around $5, and they don't muffle the sound; they just make it quieter. I could still hear everything clearly.
 
Longest ringing I had after a concert, well more like a one day festival, was three days.
When I woke up the third day and I could still hear that I thought I was fucked but the next day it was gone.

I think I was close to getting tinnitus. Anyways, if it´s only been one night it´s still possible it will go away.
 
iMax said:
Bleurgh, dust looks gross...
Click to expand...
Seriously? I had no idea dust looked like so much fun!

Yeah dude, rock concerts pretty much suck like that sometime; it's why I wear earplugs for really loud shows now. There was a Melvins concert I went to where I could barely hear for the next two days. It's unfortunate.
 
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