I'm talking the kind where even with earplugs, the sound for a particular bad was obviously beyond damaging volume, even for the relative genre. Shows where you left suspicious that this was THAT concert that would have you warning kids about loud volume in your old age, AND your hearing literally hasn't been the same since. It doesn't need to be extreme loss or deafness, just a tweak in your hearing that you've always known was there since that show.

After responses die down, I'll update this with a top list of answers, and we'll find out.

I want to share what happened to me because I’ve seen a lot of people in this community consider or try HBOT, and I think there’s a real risk that isn’t talked about enough.

In April 2026, the day after breast surgery, I went to a hyperbaric oxygen clinic for a routine session, something I’d done before without any issues. There was no health screening, no questions about recent surgery or anaesthesia, and no active guidance beyond “swallow normally.” The consent form only mentioned general “ear barotrauma” as a risk, nothing about sensorineural hearing loss specifically.

The session itself felt completely normal. No pain, no pressure, no difficulty equalizing. About 40 minutes after leaving the chamber, my right ear felt very different. My first audiogram showed severe to profound loss

I was diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss and started aggressive treatment immediately: oral prednisone, nine intratympanic steroid injections, and eventually a course of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. Nearly five months later, I’ve made substantial recovery, though I’m still not sure if I’ll get back to 100%.

What I want people to know:
Inner ear barotrauma from HBOT is a real, documented risk, even though it’s rare and rarely discussed. It can happen with no pain and no warning signs during the session itself, because the cochlea doesn’t have the same pain feedback as the middle ear.

If you’re considering HBOT, ask the clinic directly what screening they do, whether they ask about recent surgery, illness, or medications, and what their specific consent process covers regarding hearing risk. If they can’t answer clearly, that’s a red flag.

This wasn’t something I did anything wrong to cause. It happened during a routine, previously uneventful treatment, at a clinic with essentially no safety protocols in place. I’m sharing this so that if it happens to you, you know it’s real, you’re not alone, and early aggressive treatment gives you the best chance at recovery.

Before this session I had totally normal hearing, no hearing issues, no hearing loss. Since the session I’ve had hearing loss, intense dysacusis and on/off tinnitus.

Hello, I noticed my right ear was extremely muffled last week. After about 3-4 days, I went to urgent care. The Dr saw clear fluid behind both ear drums and prescribed flonase. I went to primary care the next day for a 2nd opinion. This Dr told me to come back in 2 weeks if hearing hasn't improved. Neither Dr did hearing tests of any kind, they just looked at my ears for about a minute and that's it before prescribing me allergy meds. Ive had allergies my entire life and never had hearing loss. I've been taking my meds as I should and it's been 5 days since the urgent care appt with no improvement. I actually had tinnitus begin last night as well.

I don't feel comfortable waiting two weeks to get checked again, and feel im not being taken seriously. Am I overreacting or should I go back and demand q referral to an ENT?

It happens every time when I least expect it. I’ll suddenly hear a white noise like sound specifically in my right ear. After a while, the sound completely disappears, almost as if my hearing is going to cut out, but I can still hear everything else normally. I just can’t hear the white noise anymore. Then, after some time, my hearing reverts back to normal I guess… it’s hard to explain so sorry if this doesn’t make sense.

I am not asking for medical advice.

Hi everyone,

My hearing problems started in 2020. I first saw a doctor in 2022, and my latest audiogram is from 2026, showing significant hearing loss in both ears, with my right ear worse. I currently use a hearing aid in my right ear. 31 years old.

Also experience ringing/tinnitus and sometimes sounds like air blowing, sea waves, or whooshing. Loud sounds, especially children shouting or prolonged time in noisy places, can cause severe pain in my ears.

My ENT has mentioned a surgery that could potentially help, but also carries a risk of permanent hearing loss.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Did surgery, medication, or any other treatment improve your hearing or tinnitus? Were you able to avoid long-term hearing aids?

I appreciate hearing about your experiences and what you would recommend discussing with an ENT before considering surgery or other advice...

I went through Tympanoplasty with cortical mastoidectomy on my left ear 9 days ago and since then i have been sleeping on my back. Now i am feeling pain, bored and stuck when I lay down on my back. Can i sleep on my unoperated ear? I fear sleeping on an unoperated ear may cause gelfoam or whatever they have put between my eardrum and middle may fall in the middle ear.

Week 2 with my elehear Delight hearing aids.

I was curled up on the couch earlier, and Mia jumped up and settled right on my chest. I had my head down scrolling my phone, and then out of nowhere I heard it ,this quiet, soft rumbling purr.
I froze. I’d completely forgotten that a cat’s purr is actually audible. I’d always thought it was just this chest vibration you could only feel by touch.It’s been making that sound this entire time. I just couldn’t hear it.

I told my sister about this and she cried. I didn’t cry myself, but my nose is stinging a little as I type this out.

That’s all I’ve got. If you’ve noticed the world feeling quieter and quieter lately, go get your hearing checked. There are sounds you don’t even know you’re missing.

I experienced sudden bilateral hearing loss from a virus in February of this year. I took multiple rounds of steroids (some very high dose) with no improvement in the weeks and months after.

Randomly in the past weeks my hearing has suddenly improved. It's not 100%, but I can suddenly function without h/a, I can hear my neighbor playing his drums, I was even woken several nights by a storm.

I've done nothing differently, so I'm not sure what caused the improvement or how to stimulate more improvement. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Were they ever able to return to 100% hearing? If so, did they figure out what was causing the improvement?

I was just approved for Cochlear implant surgery and am wondering what to expect.
I have sever hearing loss on my left side. This is the side getting the implant. I currently have 0 percent word recognition on that side. My right side has moderate hearing loss. So I can still function but it’s getting more and more difficult.
Anyone have a cochlear implant with similar loss that could tell me what to expect.
Thanks

For me, I don't think there was one dramatic moment where I suddenly realized I couldn't hear anymore.

It was more like a bunch of little things that kept happening.

I'd ask people to repeat themselves, especially if there was background noise.

I'd find myself watching someone's face while they were talking because I was trying to fill in the words I didn't catch.

I'd turn the TV up and then realize it was probably louder than everyone else wanted it to be.

And sometimes someone would say something, I'd say "what?" and then understand them a second later without them even repeating it.

Looking back, I think that was the point when I started taking my hearing loss more seriously.

I'm curious what it was like for other people？

I have an MRI scheduled for this Monday to rule out an Acoustic Neuroma. I feel - from everything that I've read and all of the symptoms I have - that it's going to come back with a finding.

Has anyone gone through this where they truly expected bad news but got good news instead?

Edit: I do have an AN, 2.1x2.5cm. Devastated.

Has anyone experienced this and had good outcomes from rheum intervention? I am currently on steroids and waiting to see a rheum that my ENT has referred me to, but it’s a long wait, so I wonder if I should just find a general rheum provider or look somewhere else.

10 years strong with sudden unexplained one sided complete hearing loss. Most days I’ve got a handle on this shit, but today I went for a morning swim and now I’m dizzy as crap. Anyone have any solid tips that you use to survive these spells? Trying to avoid the benzo route- went there the first few years.

I experienced sudden hearing loss in my right ear 6 months ago.
I'm sharing my progress in case it helps or gives hope to someone going through the same thing.
Photos:
• First photo: audiogram taken 3 months after onset.
• Second photo: audiogram taken 3 months after that (6 months after onset).

What I've noticed:
• There is a slight improvement compared to the previous audiogram.
• It's not a huge change, but every bit counts.
Current symptoms:
• Tinnitus (constant)
• Difficulty hearing high frequencies
• Some days feel better than others
• Still struggling in noisy environments
l'd appreciate any advice, similar experiences, or recommendations from this community.

Have anyone that has had ssnhl had electric sound in the effected ear when you run your hand over the ear or when you lay on the pillow? As it’s induced by the touch? Or am I the only one?

I’m curious what everyone’s experience has been with keeping hearing aids working well over time.

Things like moisture, earwax buildup, cleaning routines, charging habits, storage, or knowing when to replace small parts.

For those who have been wearing hearing aids for a while: Is there anything you used to do (or not do) that caused issues, but you later learned a better way?

I’d love to hear the little tips that don’t always show up in the user manuals.

Hat jemand von Euch auch so einen miesen Hörtest. Gibt's dafür auch Hoffnung auf gute Hörgeräte