Questions About Hyperacusis

Should I use earplugs in traffic?
Should I use earplugs in a bus?
Should I plug my ears when a plane flies above me?
Should I plug my ears when teachers voice sounds too loud?

 

I don't think it's a good idea to use earplugs in the manner that you are suggesting as this will increase your sensitivity to sound. However, if you are that sensitive to sound then you could use "noise" reducing earplugs temporary and not long term. Your hyperacusis needs to be treated for it to be cured. You could try some of my suggestions in my post: Hyperacusis, As I See It. If you are able to get a referral to a Hearing Therapist for counselling and possibly the wearing of white noise generators I think that would be the best solution. If I were you, I'd get an appointment at ENT for tests and then see a Hearing Therapist.
Best of luck
Michael

 

What kind of tests?

 

As you are having difficulty with sensitivity to sound if I were you I would like to have my auditory system tested. The place to do this is at ENT. Please read my article: Tinnitus, A Personal View. It is in my started threads. There I give full details of tests carried out at ENT. This will usually involve standard hearing test and an MRI scan but your ENT doctor might want to carry out more investigations to find out what's causing your sensitivity to sound? You have had tinnitus for over a year and things should be improving.

I once had very severe hyperacusis that was so bad when I was in conversation with someone I had to ask them to please lower their voice as my ears hurt. I have been cured for 18 years. You need to be seen at ENT and if tests show no abnormalities then get a referral to a Hearing Therapist for treatment to desensitise your auditory system as this is what is needed, to cure your hyperacusis.

Michael

 

I agree with Michael, overuse of ear plugs can make it worse over time.

When my H was at its worst I wore music earbuds, the ones with those rubbery silicone tips. I wore them at all times when I went out but never listened to music. They didn't have much effect on the loudness of things, but I always felt that my eardrums were a little bit less exposed. To the outside world it just looks like you're listening to music.

I would still see an ENT or specialist if I were you because in many cases H is treatable.

 

Even my sister, who is absolutely healthy, says when she takes off the earplugs her ears gets fairly sensitive. Even she suggests me to be exposed to everyday sounds so that I can be desensitized.

Earplugs really gives me sense of security and it is really hard to get away from it. It is too sweet!

But as a conscious effort, i try not to wear them outside or a in a bus... I'm always ready to block my ears whenever something unpleasant happens to me.

But I will use them in a subway and when I'm playing the piano or listening to classes....

 

Sooner or later something will happen. A fire alarm, an ambulance siren, kids playing with fireworks etc ....

Either you use earbuds regularly or you risk your T getting worse because of bad luck.

 

Either I make my T worse by not wearing earplugs or my hyperacusis worse by wearing earplugs.

 

To those who say overprotection will make tinnitus and hyperacusis worse:

Suppose that were true and knowing that loud noise will (definitely) make it worse (after all, that is how most of you got your tinnitus/hyperacusis in the first place), it seems to me that you are therefore in a no-win situation. If you choose A, you will deteriorate and if you choose B, you will deteriorate (because loud noises are part of modern living). Knowing those odds, I struggle to understand why you don't just head off to the nearest concert (with or without earplugs) and have a blast. Your deterioration is inevitable after all - so why not live a carefree life? That is the conclusion that a logically thinking human being would arrive at...

On a slight side-note, can any of you actually quote some reliable literature on overprotection? I can't. But I sure was able to find a piece of literature on the benefits of using earplugs:

 

It depends on many factors. Most cities have outdated buses that are too loud and too polluting. One time I measured the noise on a random bus in my city, the average level of noise on that particular bus was 78db(A). A level which I'm not comfortable with, so I wore hearing protection.

The bus I usually ride on to, and from, the train station is a newer bus with an average of 65db(A). I don't wear hearing protection on that particular bus. Unless it's friday night and there's a ton of drunk people on board, which can bring the noise level well over 80db(A).

When walking around in traffic you should take the same precautions. Evaluate the situation you're standing in. Are you walking/standing next to a super busy road with noisy trucks and busses driving by? Wear hearing protection... Are you walking/standing on a mostly empty road with only a few cars driving by once in a while? Don't wear hearing protection.

Same goes for planes... Evaluate the situation accordingly... They are too high up to cause any type of auditory damage so you shouldn't worry about them...

Human voices directed at you shouldn't cause auditory damage either, BUT you should take your precautions if you're sitting in a classroom with many students who tent to chatter loudly, or a busy restaurant with a alot of people. If you're among alot of people in a confined space the noise levels can get dangerously loud. I believe one study showed that noisy restaurants can bring noise levels above 90db(A).

 

If you dig around for the science behind t & h, you will learn that you cannot make it physically better but you can make it physically worse by continued exposure to loud noises. I am fully habituated to my t and have been for years. But the h hurts and mine doesn't hurt less from continued exposure to the same noises, so I don't believe in the desensitizing nonsense. There are a few noises that catch me by surprise in situations where I need to hear conversation so I don't have the earplugs in. The pain does not diminish from hearing them repeatedly.

I am seeing on audiologist on the 25th who claims to have some useful treatment for h. I hope he is not blowing smoke...