Does Anyone Live Near the Street? Is It Safe for Me to Give Up My Earplugs?

Hey, guys! Thanks for your clickings.

I just moved in a new apartment whose windows are opening towards a noisy street. The cars, the trucks and heavy vans keep moving along this busy road.You can always hear the sounds they are making when their tapes hit the road.I am always worried that living near the street can do harm to my hearing.

My tinnitus started a year ago, I still can't stand some noises which mean nothing to people who doesn't have tinnitus.

I wear my earplugs every night.Because this street isn't quite at night.

The dB is 30~36. I have tested.

Am I worried too much? Is it safe for me to give up my earplugs?
Thanks for everyone's advice!

 

I wish I could answer your question. I will say I live on a busy road with many large trucks. Since I got T about 3 weeks ago I'm much more sensitive to sound and usually wear headphones if I'll be in the yard a while. I know many people talk about something called H on this forum where you're more sensitive to noise often when you first get T. That's where I am now and I hope this phase doesn't last long.

 

I'm right in the middle of a city with a live music venue across the street, restaurants and bars on every corner, and a hospital a block over. Ideal location if you're into nightlife and not burdened with T! It is loud all the time! But I feel it forced me to deal with my sound sensitivity much faster than I would have preferred to. At the same time I think that helped me. I gave up sleeping with ear plugs within the 1st two weeks, but will grab my Peltor muffs if an ambulance is going by - window opened or closed. My muffs travel with me everywhere.

 

Thanks for your reply!I wear my audio-technica muff when i go out

 

30-36 is actually fairly low. Don't worry too much.

 

@Zug
Thanks!

 

It depends on a lot of factors. Your noise tolerance to how sound proof your apparent is. I live in a place where airplanes go past day and night. They are about 75-80 db when outside. Inside, they are like 50-60. Which for me is tolerable. Not only that, I have a fan on at night and sound enrichment. Therefore, the planes become unnotifable.

There's no way cars could damage your hearing when your inside.

If you have H it's highly recommended you don't use earplugs for such long periods of time. But that choice is up to you.

 

Thanks!

 

Reduce your time gradually from the quieter time and then when it's louder but remember if you have Windows open in the summer to be extra careful.
Love glynis

 

As long as your hyperacusis isn't very bad and you keep the windows closed you will probably be fine. I would wear ear protection if you go out onto the street for more than a quick moment though.