AirPods causing tinnitus?

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.

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.

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

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.

I’ve always had perfect hearing but I also have ringing in my ears that 100% is linked to Apple EarPods. I have both versions (my work gives them to us.) It’s the sounds when they sync that causes the ringing and now I permanently have ringing in both ears. My iPhone shows that I never turn up the volume loud.

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

I have reduced the ringing by taking the following steps after using AirPods a few times so I’d like to help. I’m four months away from having used them. Once the ringing started and wouldn’t go away I stopped using them entirely. I used masking sounds overnight and a retraining video - basically sounds near to the pitch of the ringing that would distract my brain and make it harder for the sound to be reinforced. I knew it helped because after the video the ringing went away briefly, so it was a lifeline for a time. I am not able to use headphones or earbuds without exacerbating the ringing, so I’ve switched to just using computer mic and speakers. I also use a small wearable external speaker at home when I’m listening to stuff around the house. It clips on to clothing so it’s not near enough to my ear to spike the ringing. I wish I could use earbuds again but this is better than making the ringing worse. I did go to an audiologist who said the ringing could take months to diminish, which has been true. It is still there but I only notice it at very quiet times.

I was bought AirPods last year. After using them for a couple of months I noticed a consent hissing in my ears. I was diagnosed with tinnitus. I learnt to live and deal with it. For the last few months, it died down without me being consciously aware that it had. This was about the same time I stopped using the Airpods. I have realised this as I used the Airpods yesterday for a couple of hours and the hissing has come back with a vengeance. I did not have them at all loud and was in fact listening to chilled music to help me relax. The Airpods have I feel damaged my ears and as such I will not be using them again. I will be looking to take legal advice on this, although who would want to take on Apple!

I have the second generation AirPods for more Thant two years. I use them occasional at the beginning, mostly for conference calls at work. For the past month I started using to watch movies in my new Samsung tv, so I do not disturb my family. For the past weeks I got a variety of tinnitus that is more like a drip, not the classic ringing that comes and goes anytime of the day. It is mild, but very annoying effect. These AirPods have been very uncomfortable since the beginning, but I put up with it since I was not able to connect my old Boss wireless headphones. The issue is that when I use ruge AirPods I develop pain somewhere between my my concha caveman and the tragus in my ear. This paint can stay for days after stopping using them. I was thinking that this paint will go away when my ear gets used to me wearing them and after a while the tinnitus started and now I have to see my doctor to see what other cause can be the culprit. Do not blame the AirPods yet, but I feel a connection with my usage and the timing of the effect. I will post more when I see all the specialist I will have to see now.

I developed tinnitus mostly in my left ear after using the airpods for a couple weeks. Never had any problem with it before. Now, every time I use the air pods, it gets really bad for a couple days, and then calms down to a baseline constant hiss. Although I don't have hard evidence of proof, I believe that airpods led to this condition.

Soooo…ahhhh….why do you keep using them?

My issue is going on 3 months now. Used them 2 weeks. Horrible price to pay for a lifetime of ringing. Now I can’t even wear over the ear headphones at the gym. Thanks Apple.

I had tinnitus after I started using airpods pro. I stopped using headphones for a while, and the tinnitus almost disappeared. I put the headphones back on and the tinnitus increased. I went to the doctor and he advised me not to use this model. he told me similar patients come. I decided I will not use airpods pro anymore. previous model was better and I can return. health is more important than everything

This is extremely worrisome, as I also used my Airpods for the first time in December 2018 and several days later Tinnitus started in my left ear. This can't be a coincidence?

I wonder what Apple does about that.

My Tinnitus is a constant worry for me as it goes up and down, and it will almost be three years.

As finding some proper help is impossible, from Germany over to the UK, no one has anweres. That is what I am developing a Tinnitus monitoring app, so I can get some control back in my life.

Did anybody cure their Tinnitus?

Alek

There is no cure for tinnitus. You learn to live with it and you do forget about it, well I do. It's there but I only hear it when I think about it. Mine is white noise, like an old style TV that's been left on. It only came about when I started using AirPods.

I am having a very similar issue. After listening to music at moderate volume, the next day I will wake with serious tinnitus in my left ear. And short term deafness in that ear, as well. After several days it subsides, but does not so completely away. I have done some tests, and the tinnitus always returns after using my airpod pros. There are enough of us in this discussion to indicate a real problem with these airpods.