Aggravated Tinnitus from Driving a Car

[Per Fogelin]

Hi,

I've lived with tinnitus for the last 24 years. I got it the classic way from a rock concert. I have managed to cope with it for many years, but the last year has been strange. It seems like I can't be exposed to almost any sound without aggravating my tinnitus. The biggest problem right now is that I can't drive (or travel) my car. I have tried molded earplugs, noise canceling earphones etc. Nothing seems to work.

I don't want to end up in a situation where I (almost) can't leave my house. I ordered better earmuffs now, and hope that will do the trick...

 

[Michael Leigh]

You have had tinnitus as long as I have so you're a veteran to the condition. Since you have coped with it fairly well over the years until it's started to become more troublesome, the usual reason is related to sound. Have you been using headphones, earbuds or listening to loud music? Work in a noisy environment or regularly been exposed to other forms of loud noise? If you have then this is the reason your tinnitus has increased. Using higher-spec hearing protection may not be of much use and could make your symptoms worse, as a lowering of the loudness threshold of your auditory system may result. This will undoubtedly make your ears more sensitive.

If things don't improve try to see an Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis management. As I've said, the usual reason (but not always) for noise induced tinnitus becoming worse after long periods of habituation, as in your case, is related to sound exposure.

Best of luck
Michael

 

[Per Fogelin]

Yes, the reason to my aggravated tinnitus is driving my car. Or rather the sound from the car. (...I guess)

 

[Michael Leigh]

Yes, the reason to my aggravated tinnitus is driving my car. Or rather the sound from the car. (...I guess)

Are you sure it's just that? You could be right but the fact you've had tinnitus for many years and it's recently got worse, makes me think the car might not be the only cause. It may well be a contributing factor now but the usual cause is exposure to loud sounds or headphone, earbud or headset use. The reason your previous hearing protection isn't working, is because external sound which you find irritating is passing through your head/skull and being transferred to your inner ear by Bone conduction. Try and get your hyperacusis (oversensitivity) to sound treated if your symptoms don't improve.

Michael

 

[Sevv]

Ear muffs block high pitched sounds but will aggravate low pitched sounds that are transferred by bone conduction (so it makes low pitched sounds louder). I use noise cancelling headphones, they're far, far better with low pitched sounds and still very good for high pitched sounds. I also use small earplugs behind the noise cancelling headphones for additional protection.

 

[frpp]

How in the world does does anyone live like this for 24 years? I'm 10 years deep into this with tinnitus, TTTS, ETD, trigeminal neuralgia, ear spasms, and migraines caused by all of the former. If FX-322, OTO-413, and SPI-1005 weren't on the way in the next few years I probably would have taken a long walk off a short pier after my last worsening back in February.

 

[xyz]

Ear muffs block high pitched sounds but will aggravate low pitched sounds that are transferred by bone conduction (so it makes low pitched sounds louder). I use noise cancelling headphones, they're far, far better with low pitched sounds and still very good for high pitched sounds. I also use small earplugs behind the noise cancelling headphones for additional protection.

I agree with that. Had I used the Sony NC headphones + foam earplugs already last year probably my ears would be in a better state now.

 

[Per Fogelin]

Interesting that ear muffs aggravate the sound transmitted through bone conduction. Actually switched from ear muffs to noise canceling headphones during my latest drive because I felt that the ear muffs were strangely noisy when I tried them.

 

[GBB]

Interesting that ear muffs aggravate the sound transmitted through bone conduction. Actually switched from ear muffs to noise canceling headphones during my latest drive because I felt that the ear muffs were strangely noisy when I tried them.

Did this work better for you? I am also getting irritation with muffs and plugs from driving. It's like the vibrations irritate my cochlea.

 

[kingsfan]

I'm sure you are already aware, but maybe you should try changing to a new set of the quietest tires you can find for your car. I'm currently looking into this as I have realized road noise is too loud on the highway.

Just a little nervous about actually going into a loud tire shop.

 

[EddieL.]

So, I say this as someone who used to wear hearing protection whenever I drove, then stopped driving because I was afraid of the sound of the door shutting: in my opinion, wearing earplugs and/or earmuffs while driving is a bad idea.

Today, because of this thread, I turned my decibel meter on while driving around (in my not-very-quiet car), and it rarely went over 65 decibels, even with the radio on. If you're protecting/double protecting your ears for 65 decibel ambient sound, I firmly believe that your sensitivity will increase, and your tinnitus will likely begin to react to even low-level sounds. Consequently, whenever you aren't wearing earplugs/earmuffs, 65 decibels will SEEM much louder. You'll perceive non-damaging noise as harmful, and the vicious cycle of overprotection will continue.

Trust me, I've been where many of you are, and it really did a number on me. It took me a while to undo what I did to my sound tolerance by overprotecting, but now, 8 months later, my sensitivity is pretty much back to normal.

 

[Psych]

Ear muffs block high pitched sounds but will aggravate low pitched sounds that are transferred by bone conduction (so it makes low pitched sounds louder). I use noise cancelling headphones, they're far, far better with low pitched sounds and still very good for high pitched sounds. I also use small earplugs behind the noise cancelling headphones for additional protection.

Just curious: Doesn't using ear plugs and headphones make your tinnitus that much more noticeable?

 

[Sevv]

Just curious: Doesn't using ear plugs and headphones make your tinnitus that much more noticeable?

Yes, but mine is not crazy loud, so it's not a big deal. Driving also distracts me sufficiently.

 

[tjaques]

Hi all, hope that you are well.

I am curious if there are others that have found that driving makes their tinnitus worse. It has been a year and a half since mine started, and I have found that getting sleep is the single most helpful act to reduce my tinnitus, with CBD oil being a little helpful, as well as white noise machines, youtube videos, etc. I think the things that make my tinnitus worse are also common, with lack of sleep, anxiety, and alcohol all making my tinnitus worse.

What I haven't heard about though, is whether driving makes tinnitus worse in others, and what the underlying cause there might be. Driving definitely makes my tinnitus act up, and it was one of the first factors I noticed that I found made my tinnitus worse. It is very, very consistent about making my tinnitus worse too -- even driving ten minutes is enough to get it going, and it can escalate the longer I drive. When I don't drive, my tinnitus can almost vanish completely.

Your thoughts on this are appreciated! I have casually lurked in the forum for some time now, and helpful discussion posts led me to trying CBD oil.

 

[AliasM]

Oh boy, if my tinnitus vanished by not driving, I would happily walk EVERYWHERE!!!

Driving is hard for me because of hyperacusis. Since mid January, the indicators become too loud, passing cars too loud, motorbikes sent me into a panic. My tinnitus is a bit reactive to noise, or maybe it is reactive to anxiety but either way, driving or being a passenger in a car is responsible for that.

Thus is what my life has become. I have been happily driving 25 years and now due to I have no idea why, indicators are too loud. What a terribly under researched, under funded, unknown about condition.

Just read a previous post... it is such a fine line. I totally get that driving with ear protection is over protecting, but, I need to at least pick my kids up from school and we were at the point where I couldn't. I am trying to wean back.