Noise-Reducing Headphone Recommendations for Air Travel with Tinnitus and Hyperacusis

[Ant_BXL]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for headphone recommendations specifically for air travel. I have both tinnitus and hyperacusis, so my main goal is to reduce noise rather than to listen to sound.

I have checked other threads on this topic but could not find a clear answer that fits what I am looking for, so I am starting a new post.

I have tried Peltor headphones in the past, but I find them too heavy and not very comfortable. Also, while I do not usually care about appearance, I have to admit they are not the most discreet option.

I am open to investing in more expensive electronic headphones, even if I will not be using them for sound, but only for their protective qualities. I am hoping to find something that would work well for both short and long flights.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
AK

 

[delta784]

Hello @Ant_BXL, how loud is your tinnitus, what caused it, and how old are you?

 

[Jupiterman]

I have tried Peltor headphones in the past,

Do you mean earmuffs?

but I find them too heavy and not very comfortable.

More uncomfortable than the tinnitus and hyperacusis?

Also, while I do not usually care about appearance, I have to admit they are not the most discreet option.

If you are more concerned about looking discreet than about worsening your tinnitus and hyperacusis, then you are in a relatively good state.

My advice is to wear earplugs AND Peltor earmuffs during the journey to help prevent your tinnitus and hyperacusis from reaching a point where you become LESS concerned about your appearance.

 

[Ant_BXL]

Hello @Ant_BXL, how loud is your tinnitus, what caused it, and how old are you?

I am 36. My tinnitus was caused by noise trauma in a nightclub. It is loud but hard to compare with others.

If you are more concerned about looking discreet than about worsening your tinnitus and hyperacusis, then you are in a relatively good state.

My advice is to wear earplugs AND Peltor earmuffs during the journey to help prevent your tinnitus and hyperacusis from reaching a point where you become LESS concerned about your appearance.

I agree that it might not be the most important consideration, but when you travel for work, you might want to look "normal" rather than appearing overly protective. The decibel levels at the front of an airplane are around 70 to 80, so yes, it is noisy, but it is not extremely loud. That makes me wonder if I really need double protection (custom-made earplugs combined with Peltor earmuffs).

With this approach, if you also go to restaurants where the noise levels are around 70 to 80 decibels, you might end up needing double protection there as well.

 

[rioxy4152]

Hi everyone,

I am looking for headphone recommendations specifically for air travel. I have both tinnitus and hyperacusis, so my main goal is to reduce noise rather than to listen to sound.

I have checked other threads on this topic but could not find a clear answer that fits what I am looking for, so I am starting a new post.

I have tried Peltor headphones in the past, but I find them too heavy and not very comfortable. Also, while I do not usually care about appearance, I have to admit they are not the most discreet option.

I am open to investing in more expensive electronic headphones, even if I will not be using them for sound, but only for their protective qualities. I am hoping to find something that would work well for both short and long flights.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
AK

I am using the Bose QC Ultra, which has very good noise cancellation. It is also quite light, so it is comfortable to wear for many hours, and it looks nice in my opinion.

Do you mean earmuffs?

More uncomfortable than the tinnitus and hyperacusis?

If you are more concerned about looking discreet than about worsening your tinnitus and hyperacusis, then you are in a relatively good state.

My advice is to wear earplugs AND Peltor earmuffs during the journey to help prevent your tinnitus and hyperacusis from reaching a point where you become LESS concerned about your appearance.

@Jupiterman, why are you being negative and antagonistic in every thread you comment on in this forum? I see you often, and it feels as if you are actively trying to mess with people. You do realize this is a support forum, right? Also, people can have multiple concerns at the same time.

 

[Louise 17]

They are not headphones, but I have started using Loop earplugs, which are not electronic, so they do not create any sounds. I have the Experience Plus model. They reduce background noise while still allowing you to hear conversations clearly.

I use them for tube travel, which I found overly loud before I developed tinnitus. I also use them in loud pubs, at the gym, and while blow-drying my hair. They have given me a lot of confidence when going into potentially loud, noisy situations that are out of my control.

There is also an extra insert you can add to the earplugs to reduce noise even further.

Good luck finding something that works for you!

I also forgot to mention that they can reduce sounds by up to 22 to 23 decibels.

 

[Ken219]

They are not headphones, but I have started using Loop earplugs, which are not electronic, so they do not create any sounds. I have the Experience Plus model. They reduce background noise while still allowing you to hear conversations clearly.

I use them for tube travel, which I found overly loud before I developed tinnitus. I also use them in loud pubs, at the gym, and while blow-drying my hair. They have given me a lot of confidence when going into potentially loud, noisy situations that are out of my control.

There is also an extra insert you can add to the earplugs to reduce noise even further.

Good luck finding something that works for you!

I also forgot to mention that they can reduce sounds by up to 22 to 23 decibels.

Research how to calculate real-life NRR. You may not achieve an NRR of 22 to 23.

 

[Louise 17]

@Ken219, thank you for your response. It would have been helpful to explain what NNR means to those who are new to tinnitus in a support forum or to use the full phrase.

Also, a recommendation on the ear protection or headphones you use might be more useful.

Best wishes,
Louise