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AirPods causing tinnitus?

After using my AirPods for a while, I noticed a high pitched ringing in my ears (that doesn't go away). I didn't know what it was, so I looked it up and it turns out to be tinnitus. Now understand, I don't listen to music, or anything for that matter, loud. As a matter of fact, I carry a pair of earplugs in my pocket, just in case I encounter anything loud that would damage my hearing.


Having said all that, now I notice that when I put my AirPods in my ears and have nothing playing, they emit a high pitched tone that I would say exactly replicates the tone of my tinnitus, leaving me to believe that the AirPods actually caused my tinnitus.


[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Nov 24, 2019 10:46 AM

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Posted on Jan 12, 2023 5:35 AM

This happened to me too. I already had some mild tinnitus and using AirPod Pro 2’s seems to have aggravated it to the point where it is very noticeable all of the time more so in the left ear. I’m going to stop using them altogether in the hope the volume of the ringing returns to normal.


it’s very disappointing as the sound quality is excellent and the ANC makes such an improvement, but I’m worried I’m permanently damaging my ears using these.


For info my AirPod 2 (not pro) never gave me this issue and we’re used daily. It’s also not a volume issue as I can keep volume lower than ever with these being in ear and with the ANC.


Has anyone had any breakthroughs with this by getting them replaced?

623 replies

Mar 21, 2021 11:39 AM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

These noise cancelling Airpods have never felt comfortable. They create a kind of pressure that feels wrong. for about 8 weeks, I have been experiencing tinnitus since my first Covid vaccine--only noticeable when I was going to sleep. Yesterday I walked for miles with my noise cancelling airpods on and the tinnitus has been TERRIBLE ever since. I am going to stop using them.

Mar 29, 2021 1:38 PM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

I ordered AirPods Pro during 2020 Thanksgiving. With my job transition beginning of the year, I really started using it may be middle of Jan 2021. The air pressure build up in my right year when using the Noice-Cancellation was different, I felt. But this being my first noise-cancelling earphones, I thought this is how these work. By middle of Feb, I noticed the ringing in my right ear.


It was not all the time, and initially it was only noticeable when it was silent around me. But now I am noticing it more often, and even when there was no silence around me.


I have not used my AirPods Pros for the last two weeks. So far, no major difference, I still hear the ringing.

Apr 10, 2021 2:59 PM in response to Gl4th

This very much reflect my experience. Though mine started towards the end of December (+3 months and counting). I am still hoping it goes away as others have experienced. However, it appears that the longer it lingers the more likely it becomes permenant.


Mornings and nights appear to be the worst. But, not the same every day.

Apr 13, 2021 9:41 AM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

I purchased Airpod Pros about one month ago and have since developed tinnitus. I have not used them very often, maybe twice a week at the lowest sound level and with the hearing protection feature turned on in Settings. In the first couple of days of using them, I turned off the noise cancellation because something didn't feel right. I used them for a few weeks in transparency mode and eventually found that my tinnitus was more noticeable when using the Airpods. I am going to stop using them until the tinnitus is gone, then I will try with all of the hearing features off. I will go back to using my wired earbuds that came with my iphone 8. I am not surprised that something came up when I googled Airpods and tinnitus.

Apr 13, 2021 5:20 PM in response to blair268

Last November I got the airpod pros. When I first put them in my ears it felt very weird and I pulled them out saying to myself a strong ' NO!" Despite that I put them in and I felt while that was very very odd, I used them for a week for phone calls only. I developed Tinnitus. It has NOT gone away. Some days worse than others. Mostly I can ignore it. I don't have a sever case . But certainly the airPod pros caused the tinnitus 100%

Apr 14, 2021 12:44 PM in response to melodye128

Not at all. You’re inserting a speaker into your ear and it’s sealed in a manner that sound can’t escape. I’m no doctor but that’s my take. Even listening a low volumes and for short periods of time did it for me. I used the volume control built into your iPhone so sounds don’t go above a certain volume and it happened after 2 weeks of use. Thy was two months ago and I still hear the ringing very loudly.

Apr 15, 2021 3:50 PM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

Same here. I’ve had my AirPods Pro for close to a year now and used them very sparingly for exactly this discomfort and ringing that I get after listening to them, each time hoping it wouldn’t happen again. It always did though.


They aren’t enjoyable to listen to. I’d go as far as saying that they can become painful to listen to during longer sessions. I can’t pinpoint what it is, but after some time I get the ringing and my head starts feeling like it’s going to explode. Noise cancelling isn’t on, it happens even with transparency mode. This feeling lasts for around half an hour after taking them off. The ringing lasts even longer.


The sound is too bright for my liking and even the Headphone Accommodation setting didn’t allow enough of a reduction.


They are too loud for my liking as well. Volumes over 20% are too loud.


Wired EarPods sound much more enjoyable to me, they are very balanced. Maybe it’s the seal the AirPods Pro create that I’m somehow sensitive to. I tried getting accommodated to it, but couldn’t during the two weeks after initially getting them.


I don’t want to say that there is some fundamental design flaw with them, in the end, nothing is one-size-fits-all. But since I never experienced anything like this with other wireless in-ear headphones, I’m a bit puzzled.


Btw, I did get a replacement pair just to be sure mine weren’t faulty, but the new ones are the same.

Apr 15, 2021 11:09 PM in response to Gl4th

If you’re experiencing symptoms I’d suggest just stop using them until the problem goes away. It’s taken be 3+ months of no use to reduce the issue.


if you’re using them never use them at full volume. I highly suggest not despite not how good the sound quality is, but if it doesn’t cause problems for you I’m jealous.


You’ll eventually get used to the ringing. I had a really hard time for the first month. I turned on background noise ie. tv, fan etc. it helped me sleep because I couldn’t for over a month

Apr 16, 2021 10:39 PM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

I got the airpods pro during Thanksgiving 2019. I used it for couple of weeks and I started hearing the ringing. I stopped using them since then. I always used it at lower volumes. I am in my early 30s and was never exposed to loud sounds. It is 2021 april and the ringing still persists. I am so shocked to see so many people affected by this.

I have come to terms with tinnitus. I guess this ringing will be there forever.

Apr 26, 2021 12:50 AM in response to MacbookProRetinaGuy

I had an exactly similar experience since started using my Airpods Pro almost a year ago, the ringing voice in my right ear and now moving to the left is unbearable, all ENT doctors failed to pinpoint the reason and consequently the remedy, even though I have dramatically reduced my listening times using airports to few times weekly but the problem still persist and I am really suffering

AirPods causing tinnitus?

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