Tinnitus Masking: Bone Conduction Headphones (e.g., Aftershokz) — Share Your Experience

[Vega]

By the way, I have downloaded the tracks from tinnitustracks.com and they really help

 

[Ben Winders]

Don't use any kinda headphones.

Although I get your aversion and warning, this statement is too broad.

There are people (me included) that only need a VERY low volume input to completely cancel out their tinnitus (in my case a buzzing).

That does not mean my tinnitus is low volume by any means. At night it sounds like there is a B52 bomber hovering over our house, but still, even at that level it only needs a very low volume anti-noise to cancel it out. I think it has to do with the vibration canceling out some other vibrating in my head that causes the tinnitus.

Bone conducting headphones are in that case a good solution to get some relief + you are still part of the normal world because with actual in ear headphones, you are locked off from daily sounds and I guess bone conducting headphones cause less damage (at low volume of course).

 

[Sam Marksmen]

I was recommended by Treble Health to use bone conduction headphones. Are they safe for masking tinnitus?

I'm highly reactive to vibration.

Someone here mentioned cases of people using bone conduction headphones with negative effects on their tinnitus. Could you please include more information about them?

 

[Michael Leigh]

I was recommended by Treble Health to use bone conduction headphones. Are they safe for masking tinnitus?

I'm highly reactive to vibration.

Someone here mentioned cases of people using bone conduction headphones with negative effects on their tinnitus. Could you please include more information about them?

Hi @Sam Marksmen.

It states on your profile that the cause of your tinnitus is meds. Are you sure about this? The reason I ask is because your tinnitus reacts to vibration. I briefly perused your post history and note your tinnitus is also affected by sound. In most cases (but not all) tinnitus that behaves like yours is often noise induced. If this is the case, I strongly advise you not to listen to audio through any type of headphones even at low volume. This includes earbuds, headset, Airpods, noise cancelling and bone conduction headphones, as you risk making your tinnitus worse.

Tinnitus should not be masked. By this I mean an attempt to cover up the tinnitus with a sound so it can't be heard. Doing this often makes habituation more difficult because the brain cannot habituate to tinnitus unless it can hear it. By masking the tinnitus, one also risks making it worse. Masking is an outdated terminology which has been replaced with the term "sound enrichment". The correct way to apply sound enrichment is to set the sound slightly below the tinnitus.

One of the best ways to apply sound enrichment to the ears and auditory system is to use wearable white noise generators. Please click on the link below and read the entire thread for more information.

Please type headphones in the search box at the top of this page and read the posts.

All the best,
Michael

Treating Reactive Tinnitus and Hyperacusis with In-Ear White Noise Generators (TRT)? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum
Should I Mask My Tinnitus? | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

 

[Jonnie]

I want to add to this thread that my experience with Shokz OpenRun has been a positive one.

I read this thread prior to purchase and noticed it was quite divisive. Seeing there was a 45-day return guarantee, I figured why not give it a shot.

I consulted my audiologist friend, and he said that bone conduction headphones are no more dangerous than regular headphones/earbuds. The sound waves still end up at your cochlea, by-passing the ear drum. Like regular headphones/earbuds, turning the volume too loud can damage your hearing.

As some have mentioned here, the benefit of bone conduction headphones is that you can still hear outside/other noises, which can mask the tinnitus. Conversely, I find that IEMs (esp. those with ANC) amplifies my tinnitus because of the silence.

Although the cause of my tinnitus is not 100% clear, my original audiograms showed I had HF Hearing Loss, and certain frequencies were either amplified or diminished. It seems being exposed to different noises and frequencies has helped me regain some frequencies. I've found the Shokz were more effective than the hearing aids I tried, as the hearing aid speaker in my right ear seemed to aggravate my tinnitus based on physical contact.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I consulted my audiologist friend, and he said that bone conduction headphones are no more dangerous than regular headphones/earbuds. The sound waves still end up at your cochlea, by-passing the ear drum. Like regular headphones/earbuds, turning the volume too loud can damage your hearing

If your tinnitus is noise induced, you are taking a risk listening to audio through any type of headphones, even at low volume - this also includes bone conduction headphones. With respect to your audiologist, who may be a very good healthcare professional in audiology, this doesn't necessarily mean he knows anything about noise-induced tinnitus. Once a person has this condition, they need to take certain precautions to minimize the risk of the tinnitus increasing.

Type headphones in the search box at the top of this page and read the posts.

I wish you well,
Michael

 

[Jonnie]

If your tinnitus is noise induced, you are taking a risk listening to audio through any type of headphones, even at low volume - this also includes bone conduction headphones. With respect to your audiologist, who may be a very good healthcare professional in audiology, this doesn't necessarily mean he knows anything about noise-induced tinnitus. Once a person has this condition, they need to take certain precautions to minimize the risk of the tinnitus increasing.

Type headphones in the search box at the top of this page and read the posts.

I wish you well,
Michael

I was very careful in my wording saying "bone-conducting headphones are no more dangerous than regular headphones/earbuds".

And with all due respect Michael, I trust my Audiologist because he has a Masters in Hearing Science and specializes in Tinnitus and Hearing Loss. Furthermore, he's a high school friend of mine, so he shoots straight with me.

All the best.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Masters in Hearing Science and specializes in Tinnitus and Hearing Loss.

The choice is yours @Jonnie, just remember you were warned.

By the way, a person can have a Masters in Hearing Science, specialises in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, has a PhD and anything else you choose to throw into the mix, but this doesn't mean they know anything about noise induced tinnitus. In short, this condition cannot be learnt from a book or at any medical school.

It is my belief that a person has to have lived with noise-induced tinnitus, for at least 3, preferably 5 years, and have experience of it being mild, moderate and severe. It also helps to have counselled people that live with it.

I wish you well,
Michael

 

[Jonnie]

The choice is yours @Jonnie, just remember you were warned.

By the way, a person can have a Masters in Hearing Science, specialises in Tinnitus and Hyperacusis, has a PhD and anything else you choose to throw into the mix, but this doesn't mean they know anything about noise induced tinnitus. In short, this condition cannot be learnt from a book or at any medical school.

It is my belief that a person has to have lived with noise-induced tinnitus, for at least 3, preferably 5 years, and have experience of it being mild, moderate and severe. It also helps to have counselled people that live with it.

I wish you well,
Michael

@Michael Leigh, I appreciate your intention to be helpful.

But, I will take my chances with the trained professional who has done 5+ years of research, over the person who believes they are better suited to advise others, because they've experienced it for 3 years.

Regardless, all the information and opinions have been laid out in this thread. We can let people make their own informed choices.

Cheers.

 

[Michael Leigh]

@Michael Leigh, I appreciate your intention to be helpful.

No problem.

But, I will take my chances with the trained professional who has done 5+ years of research, over the person who believes they are better suited to advise others, because they've experienced it for 3 years.

Unless your audiologist friend has lived with noise-induced tinnitus for at least 3 to 5 years, experienced it mild, moderate and severe, counselled people that live with the condition, then in my opinion, he is not a professional in noise-induced tinnitus. By the way, I have had noise-induced tinnitus for 26 years, counselled and corresponded with people that live with this condition, including hyperacusis, for just over 20 years.

Regardless, all the information and opinions have been laid out in this thread. We can let people make their own informed choices.

I agree with you, it's up to the individual to make their own decision. I just hope for your sake it is the right one. Many people have contacted me emotionally drained because their tinnitus has increased because of headphone use. I say again, my advice is only for people that have suffered noise-induced tinnitus.

I wish you well,
Michael

 

[Jupiterman]

I will take my chances with the trained professional

I wouldn't be taking that chance.

You have too much faith in the training that audiological professionals undertake. They are told not to reference forums in any research as it's not verified scientific data, so everything we say here means NOTHING to them.

I have spoken to my audiologist about this forum and she laughed at me, saying I was wasting my time, that most of it is made up by loners seeking attention.

As doubtless as this is to point out; together the people here have a wealth of experience and can offer good advice that could well improve your future quality of life.

My advice; just wait a few months more before making a final decision because once more damage is done it is very, very difficult (though not impossible) to roll back. You still have plenty of healing time, don't squander that.

Believe me, if there's enough doubt, it's probably not worth the risk.

 

[Jonno02]

I was very careful in my wording saying "bone-conducting headphones are no more dangerous than regular headphones/earbuds".

And with all due respect Michael, I trust my Audiologist because he has a Masters in Hearing Science and specializes in Tinnitus and Hearing Loss. Furthermore, he's a high school friend of mine, so he shoots straight with me.

All the best.

Michael is a headphone zealot. His posts about headphones are based on absolutely nothing but his own opinions. Any healthcare professional that disagrees doesn't know anything about tinnitus.

There is absolutely no difference in 50 dB from headphones than 50 dB from speakers. You can come up with all the nonsense in the world to justify why it's different, but physics doesn't care.

If you find your tinnitus no worse after using headphones than it was before, don't let somebody on an internet forum tell you that they're right and you're wrong and passively aggressively insinuate you're being idiotic.

Yes, tinnitus can be made worse by headphone misuse. But it can also be made worse by being exposed to loud sounds by any event in general life. Keep the volume sensible and you'll be fine. I've had noise-induced tinnitus for 10+ years and used headphones every single day without it worsening until an unrelated issue made it spike. Of course if the tinnitus gets worse, cease headphone use.

Headphones aren't a magical device that are guaranteed to make tinnitus worse.

 

[Jonnie]

I wouldn't be taking that chance.

You have too much faith in the training that audiological professionals undertake. They are told not to reference forums in any research as it's not verified scientific data, so everything we say here means NOTHING to them.

I have spoken to my audiologist about this forum and she laughed at me, saying I was wasting my time, that most of it is made up by loners seeking attention.

As doubtless as this is to point out; together the people here have a wealth of experience and can offer good advice that could well improve your future quality of life.

My advice; just wait a few months more before making a final decision because once more damage is done it is very, very difficult (though not impossible) to roll back. You still have plenty of healing time, don't squander that.

Believe me, if there's enough doubt, it's probably not worth the risk.

@Jupiterman, I am sorry to hear that the audiologists you've encountered have not been supportive/helpful. Like I said before, I have a personal relationship with this audiologist, so I trust him over internet folks who are doling out advice not based on science.

I don't believe I asked for advice, and I'm not even sure how you could give me advice without knowing my background or situation... but I appreciate you chiming into the discussion

 

[DeanD]

I had tinnitus and listened to music using headphones for 20 years and it never spiked or increased my tinnitus once.

I got worse due to microsuction and my tinnitus is now severe and sound reactive.

I was in an audiologist waiting room a couple of months ago when I had managed to stabilise against digitial audio, they were playing classical music at an estimated 60 dB and I was fine - and happy I was fine.

I was called in to the audiologist's room and had a hearing test (like I had several before).

During the test she played low volume white noise through the headphones (probably 40 dB - 50 dB) - and I had an instant spike for a few days.

Now whether it was the frequency of the white noise or the headphones, no one could ever be sure, but it was enough to put me off headphones completely.

The audiologist was overseas and I had a lengthy drive, ferry crossing, visit to city centre (double protected) and supermarkets, and the only spike I got was from low volume (barely audible) white noise through headphones.

Just another real life incident, make of it what you will.

... so I trust him over internet folks who are doling out advice not based on science.

In fairness, the real science on tinnitus hasn't been written yet.

If your tinnitus rarely reacts and is pretty stable to 60 dB - 70 dB music, then based on statistics you're probably going to be ok at low levels without going crazy (just like I was for 20+ years).

If t is sound reactive or easily prone to worsening, then it's a different ballgame...

...and I've played ball in both fields.

 

[M_T]

I use in-ear headphones all the time, often for multiple hours a day, and even rely on them to fall asleep. I don't listen to music but usually play podcasts or audiobooks.

Based on the information in this thread, the general consensus seems to be that the type of external sound source doesn't matter—bone conduction headphones could potentially damage the cochlea just as much as any other headphones.

That said, I'm still interested. My in-ear headphones also block external sounds, and I wonder if that could trigger tinnitus. They essentially make my hearing loss temporarily worse, and since my tinnitus is caused by hearing loss, I'm concerned about the impact.

Has anyone here used bone conduction headphones? I'm also considering them for bike rides since my in-ear headphones create a lot of wind noise, forcing me to turn up the volume, which might add additional risk.

Right now, I'm thinking about buying the Shokz OpenRun Pro (2).

 

[withintention]

I use the OpenComm2 AfterShokz for work calls and sometimes to play cricket or cicada sounds to keep myself from going crazy.

It is subjective, but it just feels better not having the sound source directly in my ear. So, I quite like them.

However, the system sounds—like the beeps when you connect or disconnect a device or change the volume—feel dangerously loud for someone with hearing damage. These sounds are set at a fixed volume that cannot be adjusted.

I try to take the headset off when I expect a system sound, but sometimes I mess up, and it is so loud that it physically hurts. I submitted a feature request to the company to make these system sounds configurable, but I doubt they will do anything about it.

 

[Arnaudswiss]

I had tinnitus and listened to music using headphones for 20 years and it never spiked or increased my tinnitus once.

I got worse due to microsuction and my tinnitus is now severe and sound reactive.

I was in an audiologist waiting room a couple of months ago when I had managed to stabilise against digitial audio, they were playing classical music at an estimated 60 dB and I was fine - and happy I was fine.

I was called in to the audiologist's room and had a hearing test (like I had several before).

During the test she played low volume white noise through the headphones (probably 40 dB - 50 dB) - and I had an instant spike for a few days.

Now whether it was the frequency of the white noise or the headphones, no one could ever be sure, but it was enough to put me off headphones completely.

The audiologist was overseas and I had a lengthy drive, ferry crossing, visit to city centre (double protected) and supermarkets, and the only spike I got was from low volume (barely audible) white noise through headphones.

Just another real life incident, make of it what you will.

In fairness, the real science on tinnitus hasn't been written yet.

If your tinnitus rarely reacts and is pretty stable to 60 dB - 70 dB music, then based on statistics you're probably going to be ok at low levels without going crazy (just like I was for 20+ years).

If t is sound reactive or easily prone to worsening, then it's a different ballgame...

...and I've played ball in both fields.

Your story sounds so similar to mine.

I have lived with mild tinnitus for around 20 years, listening to an hour of music every day without ever experiencing a spike. But then, an ear infection and an inappropriate ENT procedure caused a long-lasting worsening. Since that moment, my tinnitus has become very reactive to most of the sounds around me.

Have you found any ways to make your tinnitus less reactive? Any strategies or tips to share?

Thanks a lot!

 

[M_T]

I use the OpenComm2 AfterShokz for work calls and sometimes to play cricket or cicada sounds to keep myself from going crazy.

It is subjective, but it just feels better not having the sound source directly in my ear. So, I quite like them.

However, the system sounds—like the beeps when you connect or disconnect a device or change the volume—feel dangerously loud for someone with hearing damage. These sounds are set at a fixed volume that cannot be adjusted.

I try to take the headset off when I expect a system sound, but sometimes I mess up, and it is so loud that it physically hurts. I submitted a feature request to the company to make these system sounds configurable, but I doubt they will do anything about it.

I purchased the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 but haven't had much experience with it yet because I need a 3.5mm-to-Bluetooth transmitter for my MP3 player. Unfortunately, the one I received didn't work.

I tested the headphones with my phone and wasn't impressed by the sound quality. I agree with other users who mention that the volume is relatively low, requiring it to be turned up to almost 100%. However, even at high volume, it didn't cause discomfort or pain.

I only tested them for a few minutes.

The system sounds are indeed quite loud, and I believe the device emits a sound to indicate it is shutting down. If that's the case, it might not be ideal for falling asleep, as the shutdown sound could wake you. That's a good suggestion to send them a request—I'll do that as well.

 

[Ant_BXL]

Has anyone else here used the Shokz OpenRun? I am considering buying one for running, but I am a bit concerned about its impact on tinnitus, so I wanted to ask for opinions.

Are the system sounds predictable?

 

[Michael Leigh]

Has anyone else here used the Shokz OpenRun? I am considering buying one for running, but I am a bit concerned about its impact on tinnitus, so I wanted to ask for opinions.

Are the system sounds predictable?

You have noise-induced tinnitus. Therefore, you are playing with fire, as you risk making your tinnitus worse if you listen to audio through any type of headphone even at low volume.

Michael

 

[withintention]

OpenComm AfterShokz bone conduction headphones are unsafe for a couple of reasons. I detailed here how they damaged my hearing.

 

[hopeInMe]

I've been using the Shokz OpenRun for almost two months—about eight hours a day, five days a week, usually with a break during lunch.

I haven't noticed much change in my tinnitus, but mine is a bit unusual. It always rings loudly at night when I'm tired, but it resets once I fall asleep. I can go three weeks without it bothering me, then suddenly have three weeks where it really does, before it slowly fades again.

It's mild enough to be masked by the sound of a computer fan in the office, but not listening to music makes me anxious, so I keep music on while I work.

Hope this helps someone!

 

[M_T]

OpenComm AfterShokz bone conduction headphones are unsafe for a couple of reasons. I detailed here how they damaged my hearing.

Thanks for sharing. The challenge with tinnitus is that most of the "evidence" is anecdotal, leaving you in an n = 1 situation.

My gut feeling is that bone conduction headphones might help me since they keep the ear canal open. Regular headphones, on the other hand, block it off and muffle surrounding sounds, which could potentially cause the "inner volume knob" to amplify tinnitus. Avoiding headphones altogether might be the safest, risk-free approach, but that would significantly reduce my quality of life.

Tracking my hearing is a great idea—I've never officially measured it, but I think I'll start.

It's good to share these stories, whether positive or negative. I've seen both sides, and it helps everyone make their own informed decisions.