Hearing loss and related symptoms

So, I’ve started waking up in the morning with this ringing in my left ear. It isn't constant, though—it mostly triggers when I actually speak. I've also noticed that my ability to pick up low frequencies in that ear is pretty much shot.

Has anyone else dealt with anything like this? Every medical article I dig up focuses on the loss of high-frequency hearing as the primary symptom of damage, which doesn't quite match what I'm feeling.

My gut tells me it might just be some kind of inflammation or something similar.
I'm heading to see a doctor regardless, but I wanted to see if anyone here has experienced anything even remotely similar.

You guys are such a bunch of cheapskates 😛

It’s entirely possible you’re dealing with an inner or middle ear infection, or maybe some permanent hearing damage from being exposed to excessive noise levels... but honestly, my money is on an infection first.

So, just to be stubborn, I decided to go catch Star Trek at AMC Theatres, and man, was it loud...
It was so deafeningly obnoxious that at one point I actually wanted to get up, walk out, and just watch the movie on a DVD or something at home! 🙄