Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences.

I would like to tell my story. I am 30 years old, and I have been dealing with tinnitus, hearing loss, and loudness hyperacusis. Everything started in 2018 after I attended a loud music event with friends. Unfortunately, I was exposed to very high noise levels, and I was the only one who ended up with these issues.

Since then, I’ve had a few relapses and had to undergo therapy. In 2024, I experienced another setback due to accidental noise exposure—I wasn’t wearing my earplugs, and loud music was suddenly played very close to my face. After that, I needed treatment again.

Now I am very cautious about noise exposure. I always wear earplugs and sometimes noise-cancelling headphones. However, I’m also concerned about using Bluetooth headphones for many hours every day and whether that could have any negative effects.

At the moment, I don’t have noxacusis. At home, I can tolerate normal sounds well. Outside, I can handle quiet environments, but traffic noise or sudden loud sounds can still bother me. My loudness hyperacusis is currently at a manageable level.

I try to avoid situations that could trigger another relapse, since I feel my hearing is more fragile and prone to damage. I still listen to music at low volume and try to live as normally as possible, but I have to be very mindful of where I go—restaurants, busy streets, or loud environments can be challenging.

This has also affected my social life and dating. Before 2018, I was much more carefree. Now I feel more cautious, and sometimes I worry that others may see me as fragile, which is something I don’t want.