Hello! I am noticing that my tinnitus may spike after walking outdoors near traffic. Does anyone have a suggestion for a good type of earplug, such as silicone or wax, that I should use when outdoors? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!
Earplug Recommendations for Outdoor Traffic Noise?
- Thread starter timsmith
- Start date
trevl
Member
- Nov 11, 2021
- 32
- Tinnitus Since
- 11/2021
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Probably Acoustic Trauma due to driving a Mitsubishi Rosa
I use silicone sleep earplugs that are custom made for my ear canal. GN Hearing Australia makes mine. I use their Sleep Plugs. These reduce noise by 40 dB. Because they are formed to my ear, there is no soreness over time. I use them in any indoor or outdoor environments where I expect noise over 70 dB.
Thank you, everyone, for replying. Someone mentioned that foam earplugs can worsen tinnitus, yet I also see recommendations for using foam earplugs. Can anyone offer some clarity on this issue before I buy any?
To the person who asked if I used to wear earplugs during traffic, no, I did not.
To the person who asked if I used to wear earplugs during traffic, no, I did not.
trevl
Member
- Nov 11, 2021
- 32
- Tinnitus Since
- 11/2021
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Probably Acoustic Trauma due to driving a Mitsubishi Rosa
Earplugs or earmuffs do not worsen tinnitus. These devices reduce external sound, which then causes you to notice your internally produced sound (tinnitus) more. They do not make your tinnitus worse. Only the perception of your current tinnitus becomes stronger while you are wearing these devices.
If you have tinnitus due to noise exposure, you have damaged your hearing cells. That damage does not improve. It can get worse. Worse means higher volume tinnitus and more varied tinnitus frequencies. Both of these are more difficult to manage.
You can read many stories here about people who have "recovered" from their tinnitus, only to suffer worse symptoms after attending another loud event or engaging in an activity with high sound levels, without using hearing protection. Hearing cell damage is permanent.
You do not recover from tinnitus with thought processes, herbs, or medications.
Noise-induced tinnitus results from the loss of effective signals coming from damaged hearing cells. Through plasticity, your brain works with your auditory system to recruit alternative hearing cells to compensate for this signal loss. For a first event or mild hearing cell damage, this cellular recruitment and compensation are often enough to reduce or eliminate tinnitus. However, the damage remains, and more hearing cells are still vulnerable to further damage. This includes those already tasked with responding to native and non-native frequencies. Exposure to additional excessive sound is the pathway to increased and more permanent tinnitus.
Stay away from noise levels above 70 dB (my audiologist's advice). Use hearing protection if you expect to be in such environments.
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