Should I Wear Custom (-25 dB NRR) or Normal (-21 - 24 dB NRR) Earplugs to the Restaurant?

Hi,

Tonight I have to go to the restaurant (which is not too noisy), and I have two pairs of earplugs, but I don't know which ones to wear.

The first pair is a custom silicone pair -25 dB on all frequencies, and the other pair is a silicone pair that is not custom-made and attenuates between 21- and -24 dB.

Thank you for your answers!

 

I don't think it really matters as long as you wear them. Take both and see which pair cuts out the most noise for you.

 

Take both. Presumption is...your brain has turned up the gain on your tinnitus and noise is painfully loud for you.

Please know, many grow out of this. I have to some degree. I have a recently measured 20 dB shift in gain. 80dB to me is more like 100dB to those with normal hearing. I believe I was worse in my earlier days of contracting tinnitus. I am still pretty careful with dish plates on granite countertops for example. Don't know why this hurts my ears because I have measurable high frequency hearing loss and rattling plates are not low frequency.

Consensus on this forum, is sound deprivation is bad for our condition. So you want 'incremental' sound exposure.
And yes, you can modulate this with ear plugs. I have done this on occasion. Not often. But I have worn foam earplugs to loud parties.

Expose your ears to as much 'normal' sound levels as you can tolerate. Abstinence from sound is considered unhealthy and can keep you at the hyper sensitive stage which of course nobody wants.

Good luck.

 

When you go to a restaurant wearing earplugs, is it fine to eat having the plugs in? Or do you guys remove them while eating?

 

@Simon Czt

Using earplugs frequently in the manner that you intend could make problems for you in the future. If you are sensitive to sound, this might indicate you have hyperacusis. Seek to treat it by self help or seeing a Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that specialises in tinnitus and hyperacusis treatment and management. The answer isn't wearing earplugs to suppress what I consider to be normal environmental sounds such as a restaurant. If you are using earplugs when out and about during the day, then you are even more likely to lower the loudness threshold of your auditory system, resulting in making it more sensitive to sound. You might find my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it, in the link below helpful.

Michael

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

Apparently due to a symptom of hearing loss called recruitment. Scumbag brain...

 

The two earplugs are quite close, so wear whichever is more comfortable.

 

Definitely keep them in!!!