Hearing loss after MRI

I had an MRI of my shoulder in 2023 which required my head to be inside the machine. I was not given ear plugs. I was given flimsy ear muffs. I was in the machine for approximately 30 minutes. The noise was loud at first. Then they raised the noise and it sound like a jack hammer --very loud. It was awful. And then they raised the noise even louder and it was unbearably loud. So loud that the noise traveled through my bones. I felt like my brain was being scrambled. I wish I never got the MRI. After the MRI I had a stuffed feeling in my ears and found that sounds were much louder. The next day I went to the post office and the lady at counter talked and it was as if she was shouting at me. I had talked to here before the MRI and her voice was fine. Now it was unbearable. I developed very bad hyperacusis and tinnitus from the MRI. It is life altering. I have to use ear muffs when vacuuming and other tasks. I am miserable when planes fly overhead, leaf blowers are used, etc. It has been just over a year and the stuffed feeling did subside and it no longer sounds like people are shouting at me when they are talking. However, high pitch voices, people laughing etc. hurt my ears. Being on an airplane is really uncomfortable. And the tinnitus is really bothersome every day. I am so upset with the MRI company. There was no warning about possible hearing loss. I would never have gotten the MRI if I had been told that this could happen. I think that many more people have hearing loss from MRIs. There is no recourse for those harmed and no one is keeping track. of the issue. It is an invisible injury. I share my story in the hopes that someone will finally do something about it. It is too late for me though as I will have to go through the rest of my life with this problem. Since the MRI, I have had a hissing sound in both ears, and daily clicking sounds and dripping sounds in both ears. Hyperacusis makes daily life difficult. After doing some research, I learned that when they increased the sound during my MRI that it was to make the MRI process faster. They were late to bring me in for my appointment. I assume that they sped up the machine to get back on time for their next appointment. My question is why isn't there rules about the decibel level of MRIs for people having their head exposed to the MRI sounds?!!! I complained to the state health department and to the MRI certification entity and got nowhere. When I contacted the hospital to complain I was redirected to the marketing director of the company!! Absolutely no accountability. If we could actually see the injury to the ears that MRIs do, I am sure that something would have been done long ago and that people would be able to successfully pursue legal action against the MRI companies.

I had an MRI of my shoulder in 2023 which required my head to be inside the machine. I was not given ear plugs. I was given flimsy ear muffs. I was in the machine for approximately 30 minutes. The noise was loud at first. Then they raised the noise and it sound like a jack hammer --very loud. It was awful. And then they raised the noise even louder and it was unbearably loud. So loud that the noise traveled through my bones. I felt like my brain was being scrambled. I wish I never got the MRI. After the MRI I had a stuffed feeling in my ears and found that sounds were much louder. The next day I went to the post office and the lady at counter talked and it was as if she was shouting at me. I had talked to here before the MRI and her voice was fine. Now it was unbearable. I developed very bad hyperacusis and tinnitus from the MRI. It is life altering. I have to use ear muffs when vacuuming and other tasks. I am miserable when planes fly overhead, leaf blowers are used, etc. It has been just over a year and the stuffed feeling did subside and it no longer sounds like people are shouting at me when they are talking. However, high pitch voices, people laughing etc. hurt my ears. Being on an airplane is really uncomfortable. And the tinnitus is really bothersome every day. I am so upset with the MRI company. There was no warning about possible hearing loss. I would never have gotten the MRI if I had been told that this could happen. I think that many more people have hearing loss from MRIs. There is no recourse for those harmed and no one is keeping track. of the issue. It is an invisible injury. I share my story in the hopes that someone will finally do something about it. It is too late for me though as I will have to go through the rest of my life with this problem. Since the MRI, I have had a hissing sound in both ears, and daily clicking sounds and dripping sounds in both ears. Hyperacusis makes daily life difficult. After doing some research, I learned that when they increased the sound during my MRI that it was to make the MRI process faster. They were late to bring me in for my appointment. I assume that they sped up the machine to get back on time for their next appointment. My question is why isn't there rules about the decibel level of MRIs for people having their head exposed to the MRI sounds?!!! I complained to the state health department and to the MRI certification entity and got nowhere. When I contacted the hospital to complain I was redirected to the marketing director of the company!! Absolutely no accountability. If we could actually see the injury to the ears that MRIs do, I am sure that something would have been done long ago and that people would be able to successfully pursue legal action against the MRI companies.

My hearing got bad after an MRI as well. I never thought it was the MRI. I have a very full filling in my ears like they plugged up and aloha all the time. Those things are super loud. I’m glad read your comment. I never would’ve thought about it being the MRI.

Thank you. It was actually a spinal surgeon who recommended the MRI. BUT, I did go to my PCP yesterday and am being treated with steroids and allergy meds. Nobody I talked to has heard of this happen but I did find it online. It’s obviously very unusual.

It's incredible that no one has heard of this. It happens quite frequently. In fact I recently developed continuous tinnitus after an 18 minute MRI. The technician gave me those orange earplugs to insert and he also placed some sort of a pad next to my ears which was totally completely useless. The technician told me the earplugs will expand which was totally inaccurate. I would advise anyone going for a closed MRI to bring their own (gel) earplugs and additionally, if possible non-metallic noise cancellation ear pads or you may be at risk of losing some of your hearing. In retrospect, I now realize neither the technician nor the facility for that matter take this issue seriously.

I have had many MRI's, and just recently had another one. I was given the two large foam ear plugs that did fit, or stay in my ears! (One size does not fit all!) They kept popping out, but I was also given a head set which was playing music while I was inside the tunnel. I have tinnitus, and hearing loss.

Unfortunately, we have a lot of educating to do on the excess noise issue and the fact that MRIs can cause hearing loss proves that.

Anything that creates excess noise can cause hearing loss, whether it's sudden or over time. Damage can come from loud music, gun shots, etc. It can come from exposure to constant noise in the workplace or even from using headphones with audio devices at a very loud level, etc. Ear protection is more than cheap ear buds.

Did any of the physicians who recommended MRIs to people who have experienced hearing loss or tinnitus after the procedure mention this hazard prior to having the procedure?

I believe the multi MRI's have had some part in my ear tinnitus, however it hasn't been recognized by any of the medical professionals as the cause of it, and they all still never gave me a confirmation of why, and what has changed my hearing. I have found on my own that it has been getting louder, and louder I want relief but have none.