Do You Use Earplugs at the Gym?

Hi guys

I joined a fitness club not too long ago. After a recent spike that caused my T & H to go up, I became paranoid about subjecting my ears to further assault. Ear plugs used to work fine and give me a sense of protection. However, after this recent spike, it seems I still can hear the music and weights pretty clearly sans the sharp pain. I measured the sound level of the gym on my phone. The average level is slightly below 70 db, which is at an acceptable level. As ridiculous as it sounds, I am considering getting a noise isolation headphones to use along with the ear plugs. So am I being overly paranoid or is the H that is causing the amplification of sound?

Sadly, I have decided to stay off the aerobics class for the time being as I think the music that they blast is way over my comfort level now.

I wonder if anyone has any advise or similar experience?

 

you have to go by what your body is telling you. what is "normal" and "acceptable" for most people is not the same for a tinnitus patient. the aerobics class often plays "music" way too loud, because for most people it is not an issue. tinnitus often is accompanied by hyper accusis and the ear needs to be protected. I found this out the hard way - after I had a tinnitus spike over a year ago, just a simple matter like a Harley roaring by, or a truck back fire, would make my tinnitus go way worse. since then I have been using noise cancelling head set whenever there is any risk of just a brief loud sound. this includes even the supermarket, with shopping cart clanging sounds, etc. Although I work in a hospital, occasionally there is a machine that cleans the hall way that is really noisy, or a fork lift might just by chance be nearby, and if the fork lift goes into reverse, it makes a very loud alarm sound, and sound I just don't take any chance at all any more. there is too much at stake. I need to keep working for as long as possible, and hopefully at least 3 more years, at which time my pension will be very good. Mainly it is my sanity at stake, because when my tinnitus spike was very bad 4 months ago, I was seriously going "put this dog to sleep" and I was sure I would be in a pine box very soon.

 

I go to the gym..and i never use ear plugs..only at clubs or concerts.

 

My audiologist said to NOT wear earplugs at the gym and that "gym noise" is perfectly fine in terms of loudness and will not cause you any damage.

 

I agree with @Neenie. I think that using ear plugs too much will just contribute to the development or sustaining of hyperacusis like symptoms.

 

I hear you brother, I hear you....only a reinforced cardboard box for me. It seems like a unwinnable battle at times. Probably a spike for me also. Gotto ride it out again. Still a battlin!

 

Below 70 is more than fine, don't worry about the plugs if it really sits around that level. But go with what you feel comfortable with, if anything just use the noise isolation headphones. I've thought about plugs at the gym before and I don't like the idea of having my ears plugged up while I'm lifting heavy weights, scared it might mess with the pressure in my ears.

 

The paranoia about noises could actually reinforce misophonia which is present among some hyperacusis patients. However, with hyperacusis I understand avoiding certain things for a while, just don't over do it. It's also not unheard of for people with tinnitus to develop misophonia. It's very easy to get in a vicious cycle.

 

Well, the thing about Tinnitus is this .... 'Yup, I guess it was too loud, now I'm paying the price.'
If you think it's too loud, it is. Protect those ears.
I was lifting weights at home this morning and set one down a little too hard +CLINK+
I can only imagine what a gym must sound like.

 

Thanks all for the replies. I think it sucks when many could just go to places without fearing any sudden loud noise.

So I got caught in a maze of fire alarms for a few minutes yesterday at lunch time. With only a free hand to cover my ears, now my ringing is up again just after a recent spike. I don't know how high T can go or how low I can go but this absolutely sucks.

I am sick of trying to preempt every situation, sick of having friends having to accommodate my ears in social situations and sick of feeling sorry for myself. I am sick of being strong and yet I know, life has to go on.

 

I don't wear ear plugs at the gym, just the regular headphone, not the in-ear type.

But sometimes there are rude people that will slam the weights down when using the machines. Today was again such a day, I was using the elliptical and some old guy was using the weights machine behind and the weights just slammed down. It was really loud and now I'm worrying again, hoping it won't cause any further T increase, you just never know. Don't know how loud it was in dB, but if I had to guess I would say 90 if not more.

 

I don't protect my ears at the gym, except that I plug them with my fingers when the steam machine fires up in the steam room. But, my gym is not loud, and I don't use any loud machines.

 

Never.
But I do take caution if I need to lay down with free weights on the benches if there is someone next to me I just wait or skip. Because some likes to throw heavy dumbells on the floor with full force And having my ears right next to it is just dumb

Other then that there is no sound that can hurt you really in a typical gym.

 

You do need to be careful when working out.

Years ago I read of a tinnitus epidemic after workouts in the presence of loud sounds or music--especially aerobics classes.

During exercise, blood is forced into the working muscles--and away from the inner ear. This reduced blood flow somehow compromises the ear's ability to protect itself from sound.

 

Well just today I was working out on the elliptical and there weren't many people so I wasn't worried or anything.
In the few years that I've been going to the gym this is the first time that I've considered ear plugs. So this woman was using the weights machine and obviously didn't know how to and I don't know what she did but it sounded like the whole machine was going to disintegrate. It scared the shit out of me, not sure how loud it was but it must have been, the sound was more of a lower pitch like dropping weights on the floor but much louder.

Should I be worried?

 

no.

 

Man, I don't know what's happening lately, must be all the new people at the gym, but they simply don't know how to use them.

Again today I was minding my own business on a stationery bike and some guy slammed the weights on the machine. It's a small gym so the cardio equipment is just next to the wight machines. And again I'm worried about my ears, it's just become a pain to workout.

I've been going to this gym for years before and I don't recall this happening so much, or maybe I just didn't care before? Anyway it really turn a somewhat good day into a bad day and I spend all day thinking about why me and if I made it worse now. It's so tiring.

Maybe I should think about buying an elliptical or something for home use?

 

Maybe you should tell them before you leave so at least you helped some people form your own wisdom.

 

Usually people don't take kindly to such advice. But I know that for normal people this sound is probably not as loud as it is for me, they probably don't even register it as something to give a second thought. I mean unless you have your ear right next to the weights it's not likely to damage one's hearing, but it's hard to convince myself of that because it seems so loud.

 

I did tell one of the instructor. As expected, I got a weird look from her, as with many others when I tell them that sounds that are normal to them sounds uncomfortably loud to me. I had a friend who teaches Zumba in a fitness club. She said it is the norm to blast the music as if one is in a club.
So now, I just play Zumba vids on my TV and exercise away.

 

I would say use the plugs if you enjoy going to the gym. Otherwise, explore alternatives at home.

 

I use earmuffs no plugs. The 30db or 32db work fine and can be easily put on and off when required and I am relaxed and don't have to worry about sudden noises..just concentrate on the exercise.
First thing I always tell the staff is to lower the music ..makes a big difference even with earmuffs.

Most people in the gym seem to be using their own earbuds/players so no need to turn the whole gym into a nightclub..that's what I tell the staff

After a while plugs usually do hurt my ear canal - muffs I can wear all day

 

Well lately I've been cycling and haven't been to the gym i na while, but these few days the weather has been rotten so I've gone anyway. And most of the time it was okay, I was wearing ear buds to drown out the background music. But today there were quite a few asshole slamming the weights and feeling smug about it so I was only there for like 20 min, was planning for an hour, but it's just too stressful. I still don't know why these people don't get tinnitus, it would only be fair.

 

I got my permanent T die an aerobic class. I wish I never went to this class, cause today I'm crying everyday about this curse.

 

Yeah I heard those were really loud, as well as spinning classes all those similar types. Yet more and more people are doing it.

 

When I recall it, it just breaks my heart. I went to the class maybe once. I wish I never went. I was just so irrresponsible. 3 days before that, I had a first trauma, and my T was gone. How didn't I think it would be safe? Now I'm stuck with this T. And when I think of it, the music was very loud. No wonder I injuried my ears. I should have been careful.

 

I try to go to my gym at the less busy times of the day when there is less people slamming 45lb weights into the racks and the guys slamming 100lb. dumbells on the floor.

 

No gym going for me! Only outdoor sports or private classes.

Same applies to some fashion stores. It's crazy!

I genuinely hope T becomes epidemic. Fingers crossed.