Wondering what the cause might be
I got a mild case mid September after attending a loud indoor Drum and Bass event. I was wearing earplugs which reduce about -14db, but I could feel the bass vibrating the hairs on my arm. I had a bad feeling about it and I am angry at myself for not just leaving. Still, none of my friends were using any protection at all and they were absolutely fine afterwards but I know everybody is different.
But when I went to get my ears checked, they found a ton of wax in there, it took two visits to remove it all and I had to use waxol drops between visits. It seemed that I had been pressing on my earplugs for extra protection at times when the music was loud and that had just packed wax up against my eardrums. So after a week I got it all removed and the volume went down to maybe 10% of what it had been. I was crying in relief. But, it wasn't total silence. I still had a mild buzz in the center of my head, it does not sound like it comes from either ear. It's low and I can easily block it out with music or being in an environment with normal sounds. Computers, people chatting etc. It just bothers me at night or when I am stressed out which makes the volume increase somehow. I am very grateful it does not interfere with work or social life. If anything I'm spending more time with people and at work as it's a prefect distraction. I just feel a bit robbed of the pure silence I used to enjoy. But I can live with this.
So after maybe two months I got my hearing checked and my hearing is perfect. Especially good for my age (just turned 36) and well within the ranges you should have for all the frequencies. The doctors see zero damage to my ears, and were certain it would pass on it's own, I just need to stay calm and not stress about it (easy right!). So what do all think is causing me to still have it? My fear is that the sound bypassed all the wax and hearing protection and damaged the cells inside the cochlea, but not sure how my eardrums were fine. In any case I am thankful it's not worse than it is and I have talked to many people who have it far worse. I really hope it's just some kind psychological thing my brain is doing and that it will pass on it's own, but who knows. What other tests can be done? Should I try to get it pursue it and get an MRI?