Pain in the ears - IEMs...

[Trev]

I honestly don't know where else to bring this up. It's frustrating - really, really... REALLY... frustrating.

Every pair of in-ears I've ever owned have caused me a great deal of pain, even at low volumes. Regardless of tips doesn't seem to matter. I don't even have words for this really. I've purchased a pair for running from MEE. Their sport-Fi S6? I don't think it's the ear phones that are bad this team. This is a problem I've had nearly all my life.

Any supra-aural phones are just fine. I can listen to them at any volume at all with no pain or trouble.

I've been trying to branch into higher priced IEMs... but if this is a problem I'm going to have at any grade... then I'm best off not dropping that kind of coin. A friend just got me a deal on GR8 and GR10s...

The only thing I can think of is that it's a pressure thing? Have any of you known anyone else to have these problems?

 

[its phillip]

Including memory foam tips? Those always seem very comfortable to me.

If you've tried all sorts of tips and they all bother you, I would advise you to avoid IEMs, unless you were willing to spring for a custom fitted set.

Maybe consult with an ENT to see if you have any ear issues as well.

 

[j_garcia]

I am listening to these as I type: Premium Earbuds by BodyGuardz | Earjax Moxy - Sound Perfection

Comes with 4 different size/shape tips. Once you find the right size, they should be fine, but I don't run with them. I DO have a similar issue that pretty much any typical in ear would cause me some discomfort with long listening periods. I haven't had any issues with these once selecting a proper tip and they sound pretty good to boot.

 

[Trev]

Think I might need to clarify - worse than you're thinking fellas. I wish I were talking about fit. I'm full on referring to piercing ear drum pain. I can't make sense of it. IEMs cause deep piercing pain for me. I have two pairs of over ears that can be at any volume and feel completely comfortable, wonderful, 6 hours + listening..., whether I'm playing guitar with proper Studio headphones or Hi Fi. Soon as I touch any IEMs... 5-10 minutes of listening and I'm in pain, and it's not the fit or the hardware pressing against, it's inner ear.

Fit doesn't bother me at all. It's that no matter which tips I use, my ear drums kill me. The only thing I can think of is pressure, if that makes sense? Is it so abnormal that it's something i should visit a doctor for? Is it maybe a common problem some people have?

 

[j_garcia]

I'd see a doctor. Sounds odd to me, but yes, could be an inner ear issue.

 

[lsiberian]

Then don't use them OP. There's no sense in being in pain.

 

[afterlife2]

Sorry the MEE didn't work out for you. Maybe try these they have a great rep: Amazon.com: Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones: Electronics

 

[Trev]

Then don't use them OP. There's no sense in being in pain.

Haven't been at all of course. Just gave them a trial run and once the pain was there, stopped immediately. Very disappointing. Would rather listen to the wind than be in pain.

 

[Trev]

I'd see a doctor. Sounds odd to me, but yes, could be an inner ear issue.

So warped though. Days after this pain I just went and saw The Casualties with Dayglo, ... really obnoxiously loud punk show, you know? Zero pain. No loss of hearing the next day. Just... totally fine. Then IEMs at low volume cause inner ear pain? That's crazy. You're right though. If anyone's capable of answering, it'd have to be a doc.

 

[TLS Guy]

I honestly don't know where else to bring this up. It's frustrating - really, really... REALLY... frustrating.

Every pair of in-ears I've ever owned have caused me a great deal of pain, even at low volumes. Regardless of tips doesn't seem to matter. I don't even have words for this really. I've purchased a pair for running from MEE. Their sport-Fi S6? I don't think it's the ear phones that are bad this team. This is a problem I've had nearly all my life.

Any supra-aural phones are just fine. I can listen to them at any volume at all with no pain or trouble.

I've been trying to branch into higher priced IEMs... but if this is a problem I'm going to have at any grade... then I'm best off not dropping that kind of coin. A friend just got me a deal on GR8 and GR10s...

The only thing I can think of is that it's a pressure thing? Have any of you known anyone else to have these problems?

Make an appointment with an ENT surgeon.

Your ear canals need careful microscopic examination.

Most likely you are developing chronic otitis externa. This is a common skin disorder of the ear canals, that develops insidiously. It often comes to light with discomfort when foreign objects of the type you mention are inserted in the ear canals.

The sooner the condition is diagnosed and treated the better the outcome. Unfortunately recurrence rates are high, and putting objects in the ear canals increases the recurrence rate.

You need to have your ears checked out, as if you get an acute attack of otits externa on top of a chronic one, you will be in a lot of misery.

In the meantime don't put anything smaller than your elbows in your ear canals.

 

[Trev]

Make an appointment with an ENT surgeon.

Your ear canals need careful microscopic examination.

Most likely you are developing chronic otitis externa. This is a common skin disorder of the ear canals, that develops insidiously. It often comes to light with discomfort when foreign objects of the type you mention are inserted in the ear canals.

The sooner the condition is diagnosed and treated the better the outcome. Unfortunately recurrence rates are high, and putting objects in the ear canals increases the recurrence rate.

You need to have your ears checked out, as if you get an acute attack of otits externa on top of a chronic one, you will be in a lot of misery.

In the meantime don't put anything smaller than your elbows in your ear canals.

Dude, thank you so much! Figures it would be this sort of disorder. Won't bother with anymore IEMs till I see a specialist.