Anyone Use Wireless Bluetooth Ear Buds for Tinnitus Masking? Recommendations?

Does anyone have a good recommendation for an ear bud that works well with Bluetooth for masking?

Please provide the application you use as well. -- Thanks much, John

 

Anyone that has tinnitus that was caused by exposure to loud noise and uses earbuds, headphones of any type to listen to audio, including white or pink noise, risks making their tinnitus worse even at low volume. If you intend masking your tinnitus using these dangerous devices, then you will certainly make your tinnitus worse. Tinnitus should never be masked/covered up so it can't be heard.

Using white noise generators which provide soothing regulated white noise into the ear is the right way to go. Earbuds/headphones playing white noise sound crude and abrasive in comparison.

Michael

 

Have you looked at apple’s AirPods? They work quite well for masking at night.

I’d stay away from white noise. The latest research suggests white noise makes Tinnitus worse and can predispose you to neurodegenerative conditions.

Classical music or speech is considered the best.

 

I love classical music... <3

 

Out of interest @coffee_girl whose your favourite classical composer?

 

Beethoven, Bach, Bartok, I listen to a lot of classic jazz too... And piano. I've recently discovered Renaissance music and I love it lol.
What about you?

 

I’ve always enjoyed the musician more than the composer. To those ends Yo-yo Ma is my fav!

 

@coffee_girl

You have good taste in music. I have music by the three composers you mention in my collection particularly Bach, as I love Baroque and he is considered one of the masters. My favourite composer is Handel, a Baroque composer but also have a liking for Haydn and Mozart -the first movement of his 29th symphony I especially like. Meddelssohn is another favourtie of mine and I'm always moved when I hear Fingal's Cave.

I enjoy opera too. Soprano and Mezzo soprano arias I particulaly like. Sofie von otter is one of my favourite singers. When I listen to her singing: Handel's Marian Cantatas and Arias, I am touched in an almost ethereal way that is behond this world, for it is sublime. Please have a listen if you haven't heard Handel' Marain Cantatas sung by Sofie Von Otter. Just go to Youtube.

Michael

 

Interesting. Does that apply to all types (pink and brown) or only white noise? I personally find white noise harsh, but pink noise seems gentler since it uses the full spectrum.

 

As far as I understand, it is all random noise. We have evolved (or designed depending on your belief) to recognize patterns in noise.

 

Yeah, Bach is probably my favorite out of all the classic composers, classical music has the ability to bring tears to my eyes... It is a triumph to civilization and a true legacy to mankind. If you ever go camping, lay under the stars and listen to some Beethoven, it instantly teleports you back in time.

I used to go to the opera but I never got into it, it was a fun excuse to watch my mom dress up and to see my parents look pretty. But I never understood it.

Nowadays I swap between Lil Kim and Brian Crain

 

Again there has been no scientific evidence that wearing headphones and using them at low volumes damages hearing or makes tinnitus worse.

All of these reports are based on anecdotal evidence, which MANY factors come into play. I'm not saying dismiss anecdotal evidence, just take it with a grain of salt.

 

@Jack Straw

Indeed. Many people in this forum that have "noise induced" tinnitus and returned to using headphones are now regreting the error of their ways because their tinnitus has increased and will not return to it's previous level. Scientific evidence is lies mixed with the truth. The facts are: Anyone whose tinnitus was caused by "noise exposure" and uses headphones even at low volume, risks making their tinnitus worse. Just last week, a member of this forum whom I will not mention contacted me after using headphones at low volume. His tinnitus has increased and will not return to it's previous level.

It is true not everyone with "noise induced" tinnitus will be adversely affected by headphone use but the majority of people that do have NIT are affected by headphones. The tinnitus only needs to spike once and it's game over.

Michael

 

I know precisely what you mean.
I am an Audiophile and often, transported into another realm listening to classical and opera music. When the synergy of my system is in full flow as we Audiophiles call it. The speakers completely disappear and all one hears is the music...

Michael

 

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I was just going to listen to my "crickets/cicadas" app and was thinking of wireless ear buds instead of those with wires.

I don't really like white noise anyway.

 

Whilst I would advise extreme caution with earbuds. I personally cant tolerate them or any headphones at all.
Not all earbuds are poor quality in fact...Bose ( excellent sound engineers ) make these for sleep. You have to play their own noises via their App.
Should be high quality noise
Might be worth look...

https://www.bose.co.uk/en_gb/produc...asking_sleepbuds/noise-masking-sleepbuds.html

 

@kelpiemsp
I appreciate this information. It's also the kind of thing that just throws me deeper into confusion. From the onset (and believe me, I researched!) one of the few constants I came across was the use of white and pink noise in the management of this condition. I've been using both for a year, both with in-ear WNG and table top models. Quite honestly, I have difficulty sleeping without the fan AND the LectroFan machine going. Now there's the possibility that all of this can made it worse?? Lest my post be misinterpreted, this isn't a case of "shooting the messenger." I find this interesting (if discouraging) information, but obviously important to look into. Thanks for posting this @kelpiemsp.

Mystery Reader

 

Hi Michael, how fo you mean to use the white noise if not by an ear bud?
Surely an ear bud with a soft masking sound would be ok?

 

Can anyone recommend wireless earbuds for tinnitus masking?

Something that would allow me to play running water (like in this video) but doesn't block outside sound?

 

I don't recommend using earbuds or headphones to play white noise. They are not the same as proper white noise generators that are made for this purpose. However, it is your choice if you want to use headphones/earbuds for white noise.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

What's the difference if both are a speaker being directed into your ear?

 

I do not recommend using headphones or earbuds for tinnitus masking. Tinnitus should not be masked or covered up so it can't be heard. As soon as the masking sound is stopped the brain will immediately focus on the tinnitus. Often, this results in the tinnitus becoming louder and more intrusive as the brain focuses on it more. It's better to use low level sound enrichment. Keeping the sound slightly lower than the tinnitus.

If your tinnitus was noise induced and you use headphones or earbuds even at low volume, you risk making the tinnitus worse.

Michael

 

Once FX-322 is finally out it's not going to matter anyway.

 

The generators I've tried are like small speakers attached to a wire. It's floating in the ear canal, but it's smaller than an earbud and you can still hear external sounds well although they sound different. I tried them and did not like the physical sensation of them being there, I'll take sound from a speaker any day but then again I'm at home most of the time...

They are similar to headphones but are intended for this exact use... It should mean they are better at it even if they aren't safer than earbuds.

 

What, it's proven to be effective for all of us? I don't read about these things so I don't know.

 

This makes sense until the last sentence. I am as wary of earbuds as you, but I still don't see how there could be an enormous difference between white noise from generators and high quality, non-sealed earbuds. I think both could be safe for some people, and both be harmful for some people. Assuming the sound generated from both is at the same level. You often say generators are calibrated, and this could very well be the difference. I'd have to look at it to say more.

 

I strongly advise you to be cautiously optimistic, as you might be very disappointed, if your expectations aren't realized.

 

I don't recommend earphones either. Even if they are similar to maskers, and it's sound going directly into the ear canal, earbuds always carry the possibility you might accidentally blast yourself with max volume sound.

 

They stand a good chance of being much more efficacious than WNGs.

 

I read up quickly on FX-322. I kind of stopped reading about research when a member of this forum I wrote with a lot killed himself after he spent his savings on Lenire. But holy shit, they actually regenerated inner ear cells in mice. That's very impressive, I wasn't sure I'd live to see that. How long ago was this, do you know?