Property I've just moved into has given me tinnitus...?

22-12-2021 09:27PM #1

Preface: Tinnitus = persistent ringing in ears, like what you get if you listen to high pitch or overly loud music (kills ear folicles)

This is messed for real.

Former LL was selling the old apartment, found me this new place and it looked lovely so took it.

First couple nights there I noticed this ringing in my ears but thought, weird, no real explanation but whatever.

Then I noticed there's this whirring coming from the parking garage beneath.

Come to find out the water pump for the entire building is directly beneath my bedroom.

No other apartment is affected by it except mine, and it's only the bedroom.

The pump whirs and generates a high pitch which has actually given me a persistent ringing in my ear.

I have since moved the mattress into the kitchen/living room (1 bed apartment), put a towel over the infernal immersion timer and hope to Christ the fridge doesn't make too much noise throughout the night.

Do I have any recourse here?

I'm literally in the place 4 days, and the date of termination on my old place wasn't until the end of April.

22-12-2021 09:29PM

I'd like to move back into my old place (they're currently painting it etc), and use the time to April to find a better place.

Is that possible?

Can the RTB lend a tinnitus afflicted dude a helping hand?

22-12-2021 09:34PM

The other outside possbility is that I could convert the kitchen into a studio (god damn that fridge though), and use the bedroom as a walk in closet.

But do people do that?

Deeec · 22-12-2021 09:44PM

Who do you want recourse from?

You moved into the new place so I don't think the landlord owes you anything. Are you sure the noise is what's caused the tinnitus after only 4 days of exposure to the noise.

I think you may need to start looking for somewhere else - may be the only option. I hope the problem improves for you soon.

22-12-2021 10:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118363401#Comment_118363401

I want recourse from being hustled into this substandard apartment from my former 1 bed Hilton which I had 4 legit months rent left on.

.....

Rental agents man, I'd like to string them up by their ankles.

And 4 days is a long ass time to be exposed to noise damage.

Easily enough to kill ear follicles (and they don't grow back).

22-12-2021 10:16PM

At least I'm not hearing that soul destroying high pitch whir any more though.

Sleeping in the kitchen and all.

😡

whomitconcerns · 22-12-2021 10:48PM

Not sure if this is legit or not...

But if it is, your former landlord owes you nothing, you need to contact your new landlord, explain the situation and start looking for a new place

Deeec · 22-12-2021 11:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118363575#Comment_118363575

Right.....have you had a drink tonight

MacDanger · 23-12-2021 12:29AM

Are you sure someone isn't downstairs grinding coffee just to wind you up?

JayRoc · 23-12-2021 12:37AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058224007/property-ive-just-moved-into-has-given-me-tinnitus

Messed...for real.

maybe someone is grinding coffee so loud it's turning you into an american?

StupidLikeAFox · 23-12-2021 12:53AM

Hearing a legit high pitched tone isn't tinnitus. You need to look up the definition of tinnitus for real bro.

MrMusician18 · 23-12-2021 02:08AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364232#Comment_118364232

Don't you mean americano?

Quantum Erasure · 23-12-2021 05:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364270#Comment_118364270

yeah, tbh I'm half convinced that it's all the electronic devices, chargers, power blocks / converters, motors / circulation pumps, and especially the ultrasonic rodent repellent devices around the place, that have my ears ringing 24 / 7 ....

Peregrinus · 23-12-2021 06:03AM

Do your ears ring when you're not in the apartment? That sounds like a tinnitus.

The potential causes of tinnitus are varied, but exposure to a particular external sound is not generally one of them, so the fact that onset occurred just after you had moved into this apartment does not necessarily mean that the move, or exposure to the sound of the pump, caused your tinnitus. The timing of the onset could be coincidental, or the exposure to the annoying external sound may have sensitized you to a tinnitus that was developing anyway.

Tinnitus is a medical issue and, before I'd think about moving apartments, I'd go and get medically examined and seek medical advice. If the underlying cause can be identified, the condition may be treatable. The commonest underlying causes are noise-induced hearing loss, age-related hearing loss or an ear infection, but there are other possibilities. There might be things less drastic than moving house that you can do to address the problem, and there is at least a sporting chance that moving house will not address it at all, so maybe explore other options first?

23-12-2021 09:13AM

Yes, noise induced hearing loss, i.e. that high pitch affected my ear follicles and now I have persistent ringing.

And yes I'm absolutely serious.

I know the rental market is horrible but do I really want to stay in a place that will negatively impact my health/hearing?

JimmyVik · 23-12-2021 09:18AM

What did your doctor say caused the tinnitus?

I had a cold and got tinnitus. Thought it was never going to go away.

Two years later it suddenly stopped.

23-12-2021 09:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364270#Comment_118364270

A legit high pitched tone that's intolerable and causes death of ear follicles and a subsequent "ringing" sound in your ears, even when no longer around said high pitched tone = tinnitus.

23-12-2021 09:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364760#Comment_118364760

Four days of a bit of noise isn't causing any tinnitus. Go to your doctor.

23-12-2021 09:25AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364782#Comment_118364782

Ever go to a rock concert?

Come away with your ears ringing?

Now imagine being at said concert day and night for months on end.

Is that healthy?

HeidiHeidi · 23-12-2021 09:52AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364794#Comment_118364794

The decibel level of a rock concert, and a pump whirring away beneath a floor (while very annoying, I'm sure), are not remotely comparable.

I've must confess I've never heard of ear follicles, nor the potential for killing them with noise, so I'll have to take your word on that front.

Have you actually been to your doctor about this, or is your diagnosis from Dr. Google?

It all sounds highly improbably to me (IANAD), and more likely coincidental timing than anything sinister.

23-12-2021 09:59AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364794#Comment_118364794

yes, I’ve had tinnitus before temporarily. You should probably move. Whether you have any recourse depends on any medical analysis you get. I don’t know who your nee landlord is though - it’s something that could be perhaps fixed by the managers of the building. A pump should be making no noise unless it’s pumping. You’d think. Sounds faulty.

Sarn · 23-12-2021 10:01AM

Prolonged exposure to over 70 decibels could possibly lead to some damage. However, it is unlikely that the pump is generating that level of noise through the building structure. As mentioned by someone above, you could already have some tinnitus and the pitch may have just tuned you into it.

In relation to moving to an apartment with that noise, I wouldn’t be happy either, and would consider it justification for alternative accommodation.

touts · 23-12-2021 10:03AM

Tinnitus? After 4 days. From a pump in the parking garage below your apartment building?

To be honest that doesn't make sense.

BUT it could be related to stress and blood pressure. You are clearly distressed with the move and that could be aggravating an existing underlying condition. My advice, in all seriousness, is to go to see a doctor and have your blood pressure and stress levels checked.

23-12-2021 10:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364794#Comment_118364794

You have been there 4 days, according to yourself, and it cannot be heard anywhere else except in your bedroom, so it's not that loud 🙄

Living Off The Splash · 23-12-2021 10:11AM

As someone who suffers from Tinnitus it is a dreadful affliction. Many things cause Tinnitus. It is possible that the loud high pitched noise from the pump etc caused this problem for you, if so you are very unlucky because many people have worked in situations where there is loud noise and are not affected.

The fact that when you move in to the kitchen area and the tinnitus noise is reduced suggests to me that what is happening to you is that you are actually "hearing" the sound of the pump. People who suffer from Tinnitus have the sound in their heads and not necessarily in their ears.

If it is bad, then try and find somewhere else to live.

23-12-2021 03:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364926#Comment_118364926

Yeah, just spoke with the building manager.

Out of the entire facility my apartment is the only one located DIRECTLY above the water pump.

And it's the latest greatest most well insulated water pump on the market.

i.e. a proximity issue and according to threshold, it's just my bad luck.

.......

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....................!!!!!!!!!!!!

..........

Spoke with Dr, he advised to me seek a consult with hearing specialists to determine for damage, and that he'd draft a letter to support evidence of tinnitus corresponding exactly with the move.

It may be worth noting that I've always had pretty sensitive hearing though, especially when it comes to pitch and this situation is affecting it.

God damn even now I can hear that god-awful screeching whir, it's like a jumbo-jet but pitch-wise.

In any case the outcome is this horrible constant bell in my ears.

No no no.

23-12-2021 03:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364940#Comment_118364940

Could be.

How does a Dr check for stress though?

To me it's that high pitch whir.

WHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Makes me want to claw my eyes out.

High wave pitch, frequency/vibration.

For real it makes me loco.

Eliminating that definitely feels like it could cut down on my stress.

23-12-2021 03:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118364985#Comment_118364985

Can you expound on what you mean by "hearing" the pump?

Cause what you're saying feels like it makes sense.

I hear the pump less in the kitchen vs the bedroom, but I can still hear it and for real it makes me want to pull either my or someones else's hair out.

If you mean "sensitive hearing" then yes, you are correct, always been as such.