Advice

[Milkyway9907]

Ive been listening to music with apple earbuds for 6 years only at half volume for maybe 8 hours a day or 9. Could that cause tinnitus or no? Also can i get ringing in my ears days before a cold?

[A_friend]

hi milkyway9907

Please read my post from "Tinnitus from Ear Infection, Fearing its Staying"

Our stories have some similarities. My primary advice, find and visit a good ENT not a random one then together you will decide how to deal with it. Second, dont let the time pass and fight any feeling of anxiety!!

I wish the best for you

[Sally07]

Hi! Hard to be absolutely certain but personally I think it's unlikely. I asked an audiologist a similar question and he told me that if it's 8 hours a day, it would have to be 85 db or more to cause damage. I sometimes use over the ear headphones at about 60 or 70 percent volume, and that's only 70-75db according to my sound meter - less than half the volume of 85db! I'm not certain about apple earbuds but I doubt they are more than double the volume of my (pretty large) headphones, and in any case, you only use them at half volume. If you want to be sure, you can buy a sound meter for under £20, but you might have to get it calibrated which is a pain. I was really worried about my headphone use so I did all these calculations but it turns out listening to music through headphones or earbuds, as long as it's not REALLY loud, is perfectly safe. Best wishes!