Are AcousticSheep's SleepPhones Safe for Tinnitus?

Hi guys,

I use the AcousticSheep's SleepPhones head band with white noise to sleep at night. They work pretty well.

I am just concerned that constantly pumping sound into my ears all night long isn't going to make the tinnitus worse in the long run. I don't play too loud and they are recommended by the BTA but I often feel that a morning after using them my tinnitus feels louder..

Does anyone think they could be worsening tinnitus over time because ear is over stimulated with noise so tinnitus has to 'compete' ?? I would hate to do anything to make it worse.

Thanks

Lizzie

 

Hi @Bethnal Lizzie

You are right to be concerned about wearing the sleephone headband. The most common cause of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. Typically, it is headphone use and going to places were loud music is played. Clubs, concerts etc. You mention your tinnitus was caused by antidepressant but are you sure? If you were a frequent user of headphones and going to places were loud music was played, then this is the likely the cause. Even if a person's tinnitus wasn't caused by exposure to loud noise I advise caution wearing any type of headphones or headband with speakers. If loud noise is responsible for the tinnitus then in my opinion it's a definate no, they shouldn't be used as there is a strong risk of the tinnitus getting worse.

I recommend that you use a standalone sound machine placed by your bedside to be on the safe side. Buy an Oasis S-650 sound machine, that way you are certain there's no risk your tinnitus getting worse due to sound being driven down the ear canal. Tinnitus can be a difficult condition to treat and live with when it becomes severe, it's best not to take chances.

Some people with tinnitus, use headphones and sleephones without any problems. This is usually the case with people whose tinnitus wasn't caused by "loud noise" exposure. Hearing loss for example. Some people with noise induced tinnitus do use headphones keeping the volume low and have no problems. However, there are many people in this forum that have "noise induced" tinnitus, that returned to headphone use after they have habituated and regretted it, because the tinnitus has been made worse. The choice is yours.

Michael

PS: Some ENT doctors, Hearing Therapists and Audiologists, tell people as long as the volume is kept low listening to music through headphones wont make the tinnitus worse. These people do not know for sure. ENT doctors for example are not tinnitus specialists, they are physicians and treat the ear medically or surgically. When tinnitus is caused by an underlying medical problem associated with the ear this is the area of expertise for the ENT doctor. Most of them don't know much about tinnitus and how to treat it.

Hearing therapists and Audiologists that specialise in tinnitus treatment and management work with tinnitus patients but still, they are not one hundred percent sure using headphones wont make tinnitus worse. It is a always a risk in my opinion and if the tinnitus gets worse these health professionals in many instances are unable to help you.

 

Hi Michael,

Hi Michael, many thanks for your input here. It seems nothing in life can be done without the risk of worsening T. I live in fear that any think I do, listen to, or ingest ( A paracetamol for example) could make it worse. It's a sorry state of affairs. I have an injection for typhoid next week, now I'm starting to worry that that could make it worse! It's an endless battle.

I have had a hearing test and have no hearing loss so pretty sure it was the antidepressant that caused it. I also went to the tinnitus clinic on Harley Street and they recommended this product. That being said, I am so wary and untrusting of information around this topic.

The other issue is lack of sleep. I was sleeping terribly until I got these headphones so trying to sleep without them seems impossible. The machine is a good idea but obviously it was the partner!

I have only been using them for three weeks or so. I wonder if I have already done some damage? I just don't know what is the safest course of action that one that will also facilitate sleep.

Thanks

Lizzie

 

Hi @Bethnal Lizzie

Many people with noise induced tinnitus do not have any hearing loss. My tinnitus was caused by headphones use 22 years ago, and every hearing test that I have, and I've had many over the years shows no hearing loss. If the sleephones helps you to sleep then carry on using them but I advise caution.

I also advise you not to spend lots of money going to private doctors in the UK for tinnitus treatment, as they cannot match the NHS for the long term aftercare for tinnitus. I have been under the NHS for 22 years and had very good treatment, no private treatment for tinnitus can match that I assure you. The cost would just be too expensive.

Please go to my started threads and read my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View and New to tinnitus what to do. Try not worry too much over your tinnitus as this will cause undue stress and make the tinnitus more intrusive.

Best of luck
Michael

 

I've personally never heard of the sleep phone prior to this post although I have to agree with the previous responder in that if it resembles earphones or headphones, it would be best not to use it for any length of time. I also use the Sound Oasis S-650 on my nightstand which is a bit on the expensive side but we'll worth the money for the variety of sounds it offers.

 

Hi Michael,

Sorry I took a while to reply. Thank you for your advice . I agree, we have to be particularly careful the use of headphones. I seem to have found compromise; I can certainly set sleep phones on a timer to go off after one hour. That way I should drift to sleep with them on but they shouldn't be pumping sound down my ears all night. With time I hope to reduce that to half an hour, 20 minutes and so on. Eventually I hope not to need them at all. Best, Lizzie

 

All I can say is that sleep phones are sold on the British Tinnitus Association Website !
Love glynis

 

@Bethnal Lizzie I occasionally use Sleepphones at bedtime (at very low volume) to help me nod off and have found them very helpful, not at all aggravating for my T. As I've habituated I've needed them a lot less, but it's good to know they're there. Your timer idea sounds like a good one.

 

Many thanks indeed for your response. I think I will use/ration them for my most needy occasions. Best wishes, Lizzie

 

I have used AcousticSheep's SleepPhones in the very beginning of my tinnitus and when connected to my iPhone I can not raise the volume up high enough to do any damage. I actually stopped using them because unless I place them exactly right on my ears I can barely hear them. Sleeping is even worse, they slide around. Even at the max possible it's still no where near loud enough to do any damage. Test your phone before using if there are concerns about volume.