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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

Feb 11, 2022 4:22 PM in response to j_poh

"...and discovered that if I have both AirPods in my ears, turn on Noise Cancellation but with no audio playing, and push them both as far as they go, I hear a very low frequency rumble that gradually increases in volume on the right side. "


I've heard the same thing occasionally. It reminds me of subwoofer demo tracks way back in the day, and those were 15" subs being driven by 500-watts-plus. Sub-bass frequencies can be awfully strong before we can perceive them, meaning that they're pushing on our eardrums even if the cilia aren't registering them.

Feb 12, 2022 8:27 AM in response to deggie

(digging way back in this thread)


I would wager that most of us who’d spent the extra money on headphones which should protect our hearing have already taken multiple precautions over the years and already know what to listen for. Myself, I’ve got a small collection of musicians’ earplugs that I use for anyplace loud, including work conferences and vacuuming around the house; and I’ve been using foam-tipped isolating earphones when traveling for almost twenty years.


We know that loud noises are bad. We *know* that playing media at high volume is just as bad.


[Edited by Moderator]

Feb 12, 2022 10:01 AM in response to leland171

I followed the link and "officially" reported this to Apple on February 7th. No response at all. I also know all about hearing protection from work environment and also as a sporting clay shooter. I have custom ear plus and even have used the throw away type with that loud noise, and I NEVER had the ringing I have now from the Air Pod Pros. I was mainly using them for phone calls and not even listening to music (and definitely not loud).

I haven't been using them for about three weeks, and there has been no improvement.

Feb 12, 2022 10:28 AM in response to dsadams52

“It would be helpful to the ongoing discussion if everyone specifically stated whether their problem is from AirPods or Pros.”


Good point — the Pros’ active cancellation is, as far as I’m concerned, a yet-to-be-proven technology. I’ve heard some strange behavior from mine, like random moments of very loud sub bass for no clear reason. I’ve never heard standard earbuds or headphones do the same thing.

Feb 12, 2022 10:34 AM in response to Natronica

“I'm a composer and am extremely careful about my ears. Always use noise protection at concerts and don't listen at loud volumes when using headphones.”


Glad to hear your response, too. I’m getting offended by others who dismiss complaints as if we aren’t already trying our best to take care of our hearing. I’ve spent many years on the “other side of the horn” as a performer, not composer, and many of those years were with earplugs to protect myself.


I would never have expected ringing ears after sitting in my dead-quiet home office, but after yesterday’s experience with my AirPods Pro — and realizing that I’ve been hearing ringing at bedtime dating back to when I got them — I’ve had enough. I’ve got an appointment at my local Genius Bar in half an hour, and we’ll see what they find.

Feb 12, 2022 12:57 PM in response to BB_10

I ended up using the Apple Support app and starting a chat with a rep. They arranged for me a callback from another rep at a higher level, which was done right away; and that second rep set me up with a Genius Bar appointment, which was earlier this afternoon.


They tested my AirPods Pro and said that they were both defective. I asked for the nitty-gritty technical details, and he said that they put them in a sound-isolating box with a sort of receiver inside, play a controlled ambient noise signal into the box, and measure the output response of the earphones. Both of mine failed the test, so he gave me two new replacements.


I have the case number and documentation by email, and can reopen the case if I notice any more problems.


I’m going to stop using them for a few days and see if the ringing subsides, then maybe give them another chance.

Feb 13, 2022 3:46 PM in response to dgnycbklyn

I’ve used AirPods since they came out. In January I too suffered from severe vertigo after the onset of tinnitus in late early a January. I stopped using AirPods for over a month. I used them today on a walk, with a podcast and my ears seem worse. Looking at the past 3 months I think there is a high probability that I had covid (never tested positive and am vaxxed) but I had to travel for a death in my family in early December and being on an airplane could have easily exposed me. All of this unfolded in December and January. I was going to blame AirPods but I suspect it’s not JUST AirPods. My tinnitus has gotten a tad better but has not gone away completely (and as I said after wearing AirPods today it seems much worse). It was only in my left ear but now seems to be in my right too. It seems weird that I would have only now had the reaction to the AirPods and that it was accompanied by 5-8 days of severe vertigo.

Feb 15, 2022 7:06 PM in response to Mark Fearing

that is interesting about the vertigo. I had a bout of positional vertigo....thought it went away for a good month and then it returned so I went to PT and it worked out well. Right around this time is when I started using the Airpods. I know I'm not going to get anything from Apple and I don't want to assume but what a coincidence. I plan on reaching back out to the ENT this week b/c this spike is pretty bad but the whole family is a little under the weather.

Feb 15, 2022 7:16 PM in response to mikelongre

Yeah it seems like this all kicked off with some illness or extreme anxiety/stress (death in the family) tested neg for Covid but friends at hospitals say a high percentage of Covid patients end up with similar issues. Perhaps a thickening of the fluid in one part of the ear. But I never ran a fever. I’ve AirPods for years - but I’m not discounting them as playing some part.

Feb 16, 2022 8:33 AM in response to M2nova

Same, have it since early November , noticed if i use the again, the high pitch tinnitus gets a bit louder for about 3- 4 hours then settles back down to prior level. Good friend mentioned it is the seal that they create as the major defect, lack of airflow and concentrated sound for hours is the culprit supposedly, Sony just introduced a set with airflow

AirPods causing tinnitus?

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