Poll: Did You Protect Your Ears for More Than a Month? Did Your Tinnitus Get Quieter?

[Bill Bauer]

This poll is for people who have had T for over 2 months.

"Protected ears" refers to protecting your ears (e.g., not doing an activity, or wearing earplugs or ear muffs) for more than a month from non-extreme noises like the vacuum cleaner. (I am not talking about extreme noises, as most people with T don't attend concerts).

 

[Ed209]

This poll is for people who have had T for over 2 months.

"Protected ears" refers to protecting your ears (e.g., not doing an activity, or wearing earplugs or ear muffs) for more than a month from non-extreme noises like the vacuum cleaner. (I am not talking about extreme noises, as most people with T don't attend concerts).

I did nothing for many months, avoided all social events, and anything I knew that would be remotely loud. I also bought musician ear plugs, and wore foam plugs in my car. Mine got worse, and by that I mean everything about it got worse. The perception became louder, but most importantly, my emotional state markedly deteriorated. By behaving the way I did I drove myself to obsession; it was almost like OCD for tinnitus. I wasn't in s good place at all.

Once I dropped my guard and stopped panicking about everything, ditched the ear plugs in the car etc, I started to accept it. Only then, from my experience (not saying this is for everyone), did I improve significantly. Accept, adapt and move forward.

 

[Sam Bridge]

I can't actually remember exactly when i got tinnitus but i do remember at some point i started taking earplugs to shows. Since i found this forum its kinda scared me into not going as before I came here I didn't realise it was something that could get worse.

 

[Bill Bauer]

If you haven't voted in this poll, please do so.

 

[Jomo]

Yeah no need for plugs unless in a loud resturaunt or your riding the subway or walking in a busy city with lots of honking or construction in the area. Otherwise no plugs needed. Just be smart about your surroundings

 

[Fangen]

I protected my ears a lot after onset but it didn't help. I've read that ear nerves can die slowly over time after NIHL so my worsen T might just be due to the slow death of my nerves rather than poor protection.