Is It Safe to Go to a Bar/Club with Long-Standing Tinnitus?

I've had tinnitus for two years now. Yay!

I just moved to a new city and would like to explore the night scene. Is it safe to go to bars with ear plugs as long as ambient noise levels don't peak above 80 dB? I am so tired of sitting alone at home on Friday and Saturday nights and would like to meet someone. However I've been deathly afraid of making my tinnitus go from mild to severe. Any advice for a safe night out? Perhaps limit my time at a venue to one hour? Leave immediately if it doesn't feel right?

 

Only you can answer if the risk is worth it. Most bars are louder than 80 dB which is the problem.

Some things to think about. Is your tinnitus noise induced? How loud is it? How debilitating is it? How easily does it spike?

I would recommend if you go, wear foam earplugs, and check the noise level with a dB meter. At any point, be prepared to leave.

 

Yes, my tinnitus is noise induced. Years of making music and going to LA clubs.

 

What is your personal definition of the word "safe"? What is the highest probability of a permanent T spike that you are willing to accept? What about a temporary T spike (temporary T spikes can last for months)?

Goes without saying. Right?

One thing that you could try (if you must) is limit your time to five minutes, and then if nothing happens then try 10 minutes the next time, and continue doing this.

 

Didn't you get a spike and take prednisone from being in a 70 dB environment with 25 dB earplugs?

No one can really give you and answer your are looking for because tinnitus is so personal.

I would think for me personally that an 80 dB environment with ear plugs for a limited time would be safe.

 

That's an interesting concept. Spend an hour getting dolled up and dragging my a$$ off the couch. Another 30 minutes to drive to the venue and find parking. Stay for 5 minutes and then go home. You're funny Bill. But, hey, at least it will get me out of the house!

 

If you will be there for only a short time, you don't need to get dolled up, and you don't need to go to your favorite place. Find some place that is nearby and go there.

 

By the way, if you compare the hassle that you described above with a lifetime of debilitating tinnitus, the hassle will stop seeming as unreasonable as it seems to you now.

 

@Flamingo1 , you haven't responded to

If you are ok with a 10% chance of getting a T spike, then you are good to go. If you are not, then you might think twice, so as to ensure that your actions are consistent with your preferences.

 

I can't understand you. You go to a rocket launch that is 140 dB and say it all went fine, then you go to a 70 dB speaking voice environment and take prednisone for it, and now you're worried about going to a club?

 

@Flamingo1

If the above is the case, then the risk that it happens again is probably higher than 10%...

 

The rocket launch was not 140 dB from where I was sitting. If it were, I would have experienced a spike or fullness. NOTHING happened after that launch.

Six months of social isolation has dampened all logic.

 

@Flamingo1, Bill will probably suggest wearing Peltor earmuffs to the venue. That will make you plenty dolled up by itself. No makeup required. I know it's not a laughing matter. I rode my motorcycle a bit today and didn't think about wearing earplugs.

 

@Bill Bauer I'll go with 5-10 minutes as you suggested. Chance of a spike will be much less than 10% and I'll feel like I've at least tried to have a social life.

 

Yes, I believe that if you are there for a short time, the chance of a spike will probably be very low and the spike, should you get one, will likely not be serious.

 

Especially if the sound levels are 80 dB max and I wear foam, not silicone plugs. Anything over 80 dB, I will not tolerate and will leave before my 5 minute curfew is up.

 

Noise is the enemy.
Just like a Trojan horse.
Keep a watchful ear.

 

Yes, I know @Bill Bauer That's exactly why I've avoided going out. Thanks for continuing to remind us of the dangers of noise.

 

At some point after you give your ears a chance to heal you gotta go back to living your life. For me that will be after trying some treatments like Lenire.

Nightclubs are loud. Too loud. But loud bars with hearing protection shouldn't be too bad. Know the time when they turn into club mode.

8pm-1130pm is generally sorta loud. At 12am lots of bars turn into clubs basically and blast the music to the point of incoherence. Leave before midnight. Can’t meet people when the music is that loud anyway!

My friend was born with mild tinnitus and it spikes sometimes after nightclubs but never increased in volume. He hardly goes anymore though.

 

Hi all,

I have a question that might be related to this thread. I am planning to go out for a couple of drinks this Friday.

What is the best type of hearing protection to wear?

I have ordered these:
https://www.tinnitus.org.uk/shop/alpine-musicsafe-classic-earplugs

Will those do?

Will wax-style ear plugs do just in case I don't get them by Friday?

 

Foam plugs such as 3M 1100 provide the best protection, but might make it hard for you to hear what people are saying.
Earplugs can provide a false sense of security
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/learn-from-others-mistakes.29437/

 

I can tell I'm different from a lot of people here, because I'm perfectly okay with becoming a hermit to not worsen tinnitus.

 

I’m with you. But my mind may change if my tinnitus fades a lot and I choose my bars carefully and leave before it gets too loud.

Start of the night is the best time to socialize. It’s not packed and people are bored ready to socialize with the music lower.

 

I tend to feel the same way as you - certainly about avoiding noisy bars etc - though if I was twenty years younger I might feel differently. The key thing is that though there is give rough guidance about noise levels everybody's tinnitus is so personal that what might be fine for one person can cause a lasting rise in tinnitus for another.

 

Yeah, I agree, that is very true. I'm young, I'm in my 20's, but I never seen the appeal of bars or clubs. Or even concerts that much - so, I guess with my personality - I'm not really missing out on life, because I've always enjoyed the quieter side of life, like writing, reading a book, playing games and board games.

 

I go to trivia night and I'm fine and just wear an ear plug in my bad ear. It's not as loud as normal nights and I still have fun!!

 

Every question that begins with "Is it safe?" cannot be answered and is therefore meaningless.

Because nobody knows.

 

I hope you're doing well @JuneStar! Things continuing to get better?

 

@Clint Azzopardi The wax earplugs are not as protective as other types, and would not rely on them for a noise exposure. Folks use them more for sleeping as they are comfortable, and swimming as they are also waterproof.

@JuneStar It is not only important to protect your bad ear, but also your good ear with the earplug. After all, if you damage the good ear, you will have no good ear remaining! Try the earplugs in both ears, and if you use the concert ones you should hear stuff just fine as it preferentially filters out the loud noises.