Noxacusis — Should I Wear Earmuffs/Earplugs Throughout the Whole Day?

Hey all.

Hyperacusis and tinnitus sufferer here. I couldn't care less about tinnitus. I've gotten used to the 'eeeeeee' sound in the last 8 months.

But my hyperacusis is very concerning. For background, I think I got all of this from acoustic trauma. I was in a band. Then went to a REALLY loud nightclub a year ago like an idiot. My tinnitus and hyperacusis weren't that bad the days following the club. But then I got an ear infection in January. Since then -- I've been lucky not to lose my mind.

Anyway -- there's so much conflicting information about hyperacusis. I don't think I have loudness hyperacusis. Just noxacusis. It seems like my ears feel better in the morning. As in -- no throbbing pain in silence. But as the day wears on, even in silence, they hurt.

Do you think I should cover up with earmuffs and earplugs wherever I go for a while? See if that helps?

Thanks a lot. I've had a lot of health issues. Asthma. Back pain. Drug addiction. But man -- this is a maddening one.

 

That’s really for you to figure out. Trust me, if you need the earplugs all the time, you’ll know it. So until you get to that stage, it’s usually best to play it safe and protect yourself when you’re out and about or doing dishes and that sort of thing. You don’t want to subject yourself to further setbacks. Don’t push it. Most of us would say that the ears need rest.

 

Thx man. I started wearing earmuffs. I definitely feel better, as if this is the best chance I have at healing.