Is It Safe to Use Earplugs Under Audio/Gaming Headphones?

Hey, folks!

A friend of mine (who does not have tinnitus or hyperacusis, but who knows that I do) asked a question that I didn't know how to answer.

They asked if it was safe to use earplugs when using audio or gaming headphones.

I didn't know how to answer, so I thought I'd ask if anyone on the forum has any thoughts on this.

Thanks in advance for any responses, and hope you're all doing well!

Mystery Reader

 

Wearing earplugs would literally be like setting the headphones' volume at 10% or something. Earplugs reduce the incoming air pressure waves (volume), so you will need to turn up the overall volume of the headphones more than usual to hear anything.

Now, how safe headphones are in general, especially for people with tinnitus or for causing/worsening it, is a long discussion. But I don't think wearing earplugs would be a better option than getting a high quality headphones' set and setting it at low volume.

I guess it's all about how sensitive to sound or how prone to spikes (from sound) a person is.

 

I haven't used headphones in 25 years, as I got tinnitus with hyperacusis using them at too high a volume without realizing it. I have no experience using earplugs with headphones but my advice to your friend is not to use them with headphones. Instead, keep the volume as low as possible when using headphones and try not to use them too often. That way there's a good chance he won't develop tinnitus.

Michael