AirPods causing tinnitus?

I was given a pair of ear buds as a gift about teen weeks ago.

unt then I had use old fashioned cover the ear earphones. I have noticed I now have a high pitched sound in my head. Awful. I gifted these earbuds to the trash can

I never had tinnitus, I’m 64. My hearing is fine. I was recently tested in the fall of 2020 at my ENT. Today is February 26,2021. I

was given a pair of Apple earbuds on February 12, 2021. I used them to

talk on the phone and listen to

music . I now have a high pitch noise in my ears. I’m using YouTube tinnitus videos to sleep.

I think it’s conclusive the air buds and tinnitus are directly related.

Were they AirPods or AirPod Pros?

I see people on calls using them and wonder how some people have no issues?

My biggest question is when is Apple going to acknowledge this risk!? They should be pulled from the shelves until further testing is done!

The ringing in my ears continues to persist 2-3 weeks after I noticed it but it’s becoming more manageable. I haven’t used them since it developed. I wasn’t able to sleep for the first week but I started leaving the tv on while sleeping which has helped block out the ringing, in addition to using a fan.

The only thing that has helped me is sleeping better as well as having background noise of any sort all of the time.

I’ve never had the problem before in my life until using them for 3 days for literally 2-3 hours a day for work calls and a few songs.

I have this too! Got my AirPod Pros on 2/8/21. Towards the end of Feb, I started noticing this ringing in my ears. I was primarily using them only for conference calls and at the gym for about 90 mins. I don't listen to my music loud and I don't always listen to music when I'm at the gym. They are never in my ears for extended periods of time outside of my gym time. I love the convenience of them and the noise cancellation. Well, by the end of February, the ringing in my ears is OVERWHELMING. It's like I've been to a rock concert, sat in front of the speakers and had no ear protection at all. The ringing has been so bad that I stopped using them and sent them back. It's now 3/3/21 and the ringing has not stopped for about 10 days now. I'm fearing that there may be some major damage if this doesn't subside soon. The fact that you have to insert them into your ear and then "seal" them using the app makes me think that these could do some serious damage. I will try to update this as the days go on and see if the ringing subsides. I would caution buying these in my opinion. I'm a HUGE Apple fan but these AirPods my do more harm that one thinks.

Same thing happened to me I got AirPods and after using them for a week or two I developed ringing in my ears and clicking in my head, so very similar to tinnitus. It eventually went away after a month or two and hasn’t come back so I don’t know what the deal is.

I have used my original air pods almost daily for the last 4 years for phone calls, I also listen to music often, but never purposefully at high volumes. Over the years there have been occasions when switching from a quiet phone call back to my music has momentarily been loud. I have noticed that sometime over the last year I now have a ringing in my left ear. I still hear fine, but it is noticable. I have recently upgraded to the pro version and am enjoying the noise cancelling feature, but have been seeing a lot of messages like these over hearing concerns lately. Interesting that it doesn't bother both my ears after 4 years of daily use.

My reply wasn’t meant in a sarcastic way at all. In fact my husband has used the Airpods for a few years now with no problem and he listens to rock music. It may be that there are just certain people that are more sensitive to certain frequencies whether it be electrical, microwave, etc. and there are some that aren’t. You and my hubby are in the latter category.

I have no idea why apple hasn’t commented or addressed the issue but I’m shocked. They have good service in the stores but I don’t even care I switched to Microsoft ear buds they’re fine while my ear continue to ring... lovely

Please note I have sensitive hearing and I love the product. It’s likely due to other conditions I’d recommend them to anyone and in fact gave them away and she hasn’t had any problems at all.

it’s a great product and I’d recommended them myself. Best sound and easiest connectivity I’ve found.

id still use them but I just have sensitive hearing and I probably will try them again soon I made a mistake and used them too loudly.

id but them they’re awesome.

I personally think Apple should provide a refund for the product for people that can provide proof of using the product after using them.

I’m 7-8 weeks in and I haven’t used them since and paid 240$ CDN. I think it’s a joke Apple hasn’t addressed the issue. It’s like peanuts for them but I guess this form isn’t monitored or something?

Yes, they refused to acknowledge there might be some link between their product, AirPods Pro and the development of tinnitus. They are in a good position to study the question, however, because they could canvas users of their other in-ear headphones and compare the onset of tinnitus to those using AirPods Pro. The should easily find if there is a link. The fact that only a minority of people develop the problem doesn’t mean the AirPods Pro didn’t cause it. Correlation is not causation, so the fact that we all developed this problem after using AirPods Pros isn’t enough evidence. We have to show that the incidence is greater than what users of other non-noise-cancelling earbuds develop.

I have had Bluetooth ear buds for almost a decade, and I’ve had large noise cancelling headphones. Never had a problem, but within 3 days of getting my AirPods Pro (so exciting! I loved them!) I could barely sleep with the ringing in my ears.

There is something different with this product that I can’t explain. It hasn’t gone away for over a week now.

So glad I found this thread and I’m not alone.

Looks like you’re being filtered again haha

Its actually disappointing but we’re all just “small guys” it’s too bad people don’t do business the old ways that’s at least how I’ve grown up and do business, but whatever I’ll stay tuned on the updates and thanks for everyone’s help and input

if I fix it I’ll let you know how, I’m trying everyone and I definitely aren’t using them as part of cure haha

all the best and Good luck

Have been using my AirPods for two months. Tinnitus just started and significant hearing damage to my right ear (the ear I primarily use for phone calls). Never listen to loud music or have volume on high. Wondering if the sound they make when they pair with the phone has something to do with this? Sometimes there is variation in its volume level.