What Should One Avoid? (Noise Wise)

[JurgenG]

So, a new day - a new question.
How does the average user here, go about their day, without locking yourself up?

I've made some posts every time I encounter a loud noise, and I know that is -not- the way to deal with any of this. I live a fairly normal life now, except that I am still trying to beat it, or figure why on earth I have it anyway. But other than that, I am pretty okay. Which is a "blessing", I know.

What I do fear is to worsen the T or stop potential recovery.
But how? There is no chart that says: "These are the allowed dB for someone in your condition".

My "rule" is to avoid long continuous sound above 80 dB, the small peaks we all encounter are just unavoidable.. And even than I try to avoid them. But without a crystal ball that's fairly impossible.

So I bring my earplugs everywhere, and I won't be attending any parties or concerts the coming months.

But by this summer I want my normal life back, with some festivals and parties. Protected of course.

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?
• Is it true, that some events are just "unprotectable" because of the sound going through the mastbone?
• I'll be using my musician earplugs with - 15 db filter, will this be enough?
• Extra issue: I am a cameraman, and I'll be in noisy places more often than not, I have my premolded intercom and will be using an extra earmuff.
  
• What is up with the other million people who have a mild form of T, and not doing anything special and just living their life like there is no tomorrow?

Any other insights?

 

[Julien87]

To my knowledge :

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?

Yes it can be, it's even the cause of T for some people

• Is it true, that some events are just "unprotectable" because of the sound going through the mastbone?

Yes, but it's only a danger if you stay a long time in a very noisy environment (concert for example)

• I'll be using my musician earplugs with - 15 db filter, will this be enough?

It depends on the level of noise.. I would not risk going to any concert even with protection. Unless if it's outside though, in that case it's less risky

• Extra issue: I am a cameraman, and I'll be in noisy places more often than not, I have my premolded intercom and will be using an extra earmuff.
  
• What is up with the other million people who have a mild form of T, and not doing anything special and just living their life like there is no tomorrow?

It's different from case to case, I don't know what are the general statistics but the problem can worsen for some people, stay at the same level, and some people get totally "healed"

 

[JurgenG]

Oh, that suction sound: I just went to the intake conversation for the AM-101 trials.
I mentioned my fear, she said she never encountered anyone, even with T, where it did get worse. So she demonstrated the volume in my ear (with less T), with the smallest suction to remove a small bit of earwax.
It did feel loud, but not extremely, like passing by a loud bus or something.
I did feel a small pinch when the wax got lose.

Hopefully this won't result in another spike..

 

[Ed209]

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?

• Is it true, that some events are just "unprotectable" because of the sound going through the mastbone?

• I'll be using my musician earplugs with - 15 db filter, will this be enough?

• Extra issue: I am a cameraman, and I'll be in noisy places more often than not, I have my premolded intercom and will be using an extra earmuff.

• What is up with the other million people who have a mild form of T, and not doing anything special and just living their life like there is no tomorrow?

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?

Possibly, but I'd say you'd have to be extremely unlucky. I've had micro suction twice and it's been fine. (No spike either)

• Is it true, that some events are just "unprotectable" because of the sound going through the mastbone?

Of course, but in my experience they are few and far between. You are in the realm of the loudest bands on the planet, playing at certain venues, or similarly loud scenarios. By standing in the right place it's rare that gigs go above 105db (Slipknot top out at 109db). If you are vigilante, you can keep levels topping out at around 100db (stay at the back, away from speakers etc); with good plugs you can reduce this to 70db at the ear drum, which is fine. Bone conduction is around 40db lower.

• I'll be using my musician earplugs with - 15 db filter, will this be enough?

Depends on the event. I match the filters I use to what's happening. For example I use my 10 filters for the cinema, 17 for acoustic stuff, and 26 for bar bands. If I was at an arena I'd cap them to get the full 30+ reduction.

• Extra issue: I am a cameraman, and I'll be in noisy places more often than not, I have my premolded intercom and will be using an extra earmuff.

Should be fine. You are the best placed to know what's good or bad, so it's ultimately down to your judgement.

• What is up with the other million people who have a mild form of T, and not doing anything special and just living their life like there is no tomorrow?

Everybody's different. Our personalities play a huge role in how tinnitus affects our lives. No two people are alike and we all deal with adversities in different ways.

 

[JurgenG]

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?

Possibly, but I'd say you'd have to be extremely unlucky. I've had micro suction twice and it's been fine. (No spike either).

Thanks for all the answers thus far!

I've made the error to look for experiences of bad suctioning, kinda afraid now. Already regret I let her do it. (Even though it was quiet manageable (not a lot of wax). Ofcourse now I am constantly checking if the T has increased now, guess I would've known and the spike would be obvious?

But the fact that for the AM-101 trials I need to take that risk 6 times (3 x 2 ears), not sure anymore..

 

[racerfish]

• The sound of suction at the ENT, is this problematic?
• Is it true, that some events are just "unprotectable" because of the sound going through the mastbone?
• I'll be using my musician earplugs with - 15 db filter, will this be enough?
• Extra issue: I am a cameraman, and I'll be in noisy places more often than not, I have my premolded intercom and will be using an extra earmuff.
  
• What is up with the other million people who have a mild form of T, and not doing anything special and just living their life like there is no tomorrow?

• Suction can be a problem if it's loud. It spiked my T for days. Personally, I would avoid it if possible.
• Yes. If you're at a concert with music blaring above 120 db, 15 db earplugs won't be enough. You need more ear protection than that. For me, concerts are a no-go even with ear protection. Too risky for my ears. I even went to Broadway show in NYC a couple years back and wore ear plugs and regretted it at the time though my T returned to baseline a week later.
• No, 15 db isn't enough. Get 25 db or better at the very least.
• Many people with mild T habituate to it and forget about it. That was me for many years until my most recent spike a few months ago.

 

[JurgenG]

So suction is off the table anyhow, since I am not continuing the trials.
Good news is that my T is better since yesterday, it's like knowing that I can't continue the trials I can move on.

But more on topic.
I'd like to live a social life, like those million others with some form of T. Only thing I am planning is to never go outside without plugs in my pocket, as a precaution. I just hope I can still go to parties and meet people outside silent places..

 

[Blue28]

Micro suction is the reason I'm here...NEVER AGAIN! For me microsuction caused very high frequency hearing loss (moderate-severe), chronic tinnitus and painful hyperacusis. My life has been a living hell for the last 10 months!