What's the Max Decibel Level of Sound Oasis Pillow Speakers?

Hi,

Does anybody know the max decibel level of the Sound Oasis pillow speakers?

I have bought one of these pillows with speakers inside and connected it to my MacBook Air to play a white noise while sleeping. This video had a very low output so I turned the volume up to max on my Mac and it was a good and safe volume. However, while sleeping something must have happened as the video had changed to the next video. This video was with crickets and sea waves and sounded quite a bit louder than the white noise. I woke up with my tinnitus ear directly on the speaker through the pillow and when I woke up the video had been playing at about 3.5 hours. I feel some tenderness in my ear, but that might also be because the speaker itself physically pressed my ear.

Does anybody know the SPL level of these speakers? It’s the non-amplified one.

Thank you.

 

Interesting question. If nobody knows, maybe you can email the company and ask, and then share here?

 

I have 2 sets of Sound Oasis pillow speakers and never had a problem with them.

Unfortunately I don't know their maximum decibel level.

Rather than play white noise via your computer, I think you would be better plugging the pillow speakers into an Sound Oasis sound machine. Model S80-02 would be ideal. The sounds will be smoother on the ears and your auditory system and much better than white noise in my opinion.

The pillow speakers are plugged into a Sound Oasis S-850 travel sound machine. The volume is set low and plays throughout the night until morning. I also have a Sound Oasis S-5000 sound machine that plays by the bedside. The nature sounds are set low and I find this combination gives me good sound enrichment throughout the night.

Michael

 

Thank you for your response @ajc.

I already did, but having experience with different inquiries to companies, I don't expect to get a response for a while, if at all. But we will see, and I will keep you updated if I get a response.

I have borrowed an Apple Watch and will try to see if I can get a measurement from it when I get home from work.

Thank you very much for your response Michael.

You are probably right that one of those devices would be better. In Norway where I'm from you can get those covered by the national insurance, especially since it's a work injury, and I am waiting for an appointment with an ENT that can send a requisition for it. But the waiting times can be very long. So I thought I would be smart and start using my computer while waiting since I am very worried about not getting proper sleep.

I am a little disappointed with the sound pillow itself to be honest. I could hear almost nothing while resting my head in the middle of the pillow at moderate volumes so I turned the volume up, realizing when I woke up that I might have made a huge mistake as I probably have moved my head and ear just over the speaker while sleeping. I am quite worried about the volume being dangerous and the fact that in worst case I have been lying like this for almost four hours.

As I wrote to @ajc I am borrowing an Apple Watch to see if I can get a measurement of the sound level.

 

So I have an update.

I used the Apple Watch to measure the SPL. It was fluctuating between about 78 and 88 dB depending on how I held the watch. Taking in to account the margin of error of the watch, which is about 2 dB, in worst case I was exposed to about 90 dB, which is quite a lot and amounts to about 2 hours before it can damage the ears. I did read that we move on average about 5 times per hour while sleeping, so the time my ear was exactly over the speaker might have been shorter. It's not easy, but I will try to force myself to get some reassurance from this even though I am still spiking.

Thank you.

 

I have never had these issues @Dogwhistlehead. The sound through my Sound Oasis pillow speakers is very smooth and the volume is quite adequate even when it's set low on the sound machine.

I always recommend people to use nature sounds for sound enrichment instead of white noise which can sound harsh through speakers. White noise can be good but it's best administered through wearable sound generators that resemble hearing aids and fit on the back of the ear. They are specifically meant to treat tinnitus and hyperacusis. I can select white or pink noise on my Oticon sound generators.

If you use a dedicated sound machine with the Sound Oasis pillow speakers, I don't think you will have any problems. When you have time, read my thread:

Sound Machines and Tinnitus | Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

Best of luck,
Michael

 

I have pillow speakers connected to an mp3 player, where the volume can be set and locked.

 

Thank you, I will read it now.

I am going to get professional noise treatment with behind-the-ear noise generators to wear during the day but it's quite expensive and I have to save up for it. For sleeping I have tried nature sounds but it doesn't work. My newest and most intrusive tinnitus tone is at about 14 kHz so the nature sound does not mask it. I'm using a 10-hour 14 kHz white noise video from YouTube trough my computer or through a speaker, which works well to mask the tinnitus, and I manage to get OK sleep with it. The only issue is that I often roll over on my left side in my sleep and then muffling my bad ear with the pillow so the only sound I can hear is my tinnitus.

 

I agree with you that seeking professional help is the right way to go because you have had tinnitus for quite a while, which got worse this year. However, treating noise-induced tinnitus is not so straightforward as some people believe, especially when they have had the condition a long time and it has increased. Please go to my started threads and read my post: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus? This is what I think you have.

Simply wearing white noise generators without counselling with an audiologist, that specialises in noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis, is not likely to work. To give yourself the best chance of this treatment being successful, it is imperative that you have regular counselling with an audiologist while wearing the white noise generators. I explain more about this in my posts on TRT, which you find on my started threads.

Tinnitus should not be masked using any type of sound. By this I mean the tinnitus should not be covered up with another sound so it can't be heard. Any attempt to do so risks making the tinnitus worse and will make habituation more difficult. A much better way is always keep the sound enrichment slightly below the tinnitus. Please go to my started threads and read the posts: The Habituation Process and How to Habituate to Tinnitus.

Give sound enrichment time to work. It takes 6 to 8 weeks to get used to it. I advise that you use nature sounds from a sound machine. Keep the volume slightly below your tinnitus and let it play throughout the night until morning. Remember, the tinnitus must not be masked.

Michael

 

Thank you Michael for responding so quickly. I appreciate it.

I see now that I could have been clearer in my former post. When I wrote noise treatment, I meant a treatment package, both a CBT therapist specialized in hearing problems, and an audiologist specialized in both tinnitus and hyperacusis who is also TRT certified. But this costs about 3000 EUR, which I unfortunately won't be able to afford for about 6 weeks from now.

Awaiting that, I have been picking up some tips and tricks and advice on the internet. About the sound enrichment, I saw a video from a YouTuber audiologist named Ben Thompson who said, as you also say, that full masking during the day should be avoided, but at night it's not so critical and the most important thing is to get proper sleep. Do you agree with this, or do you have any other advice?

Thank you, Gard.

 

Hi Gard,

We have moved on a lot since your initial enquiry was about Sound Oasis speakers. This is fine because my main interest is trying to help people that are affected with noise-induced tinnitus and hyperacusis. You have recently joined Tinnitus Talk, it would have been helpful to know more about your tinnitus since its increase this year. How it affects your life and whether you're able to work, attend college etc.

This is important because you may not need to spend large sums of money on specialist treatment, because you have had tinnitus since 2013 and therefore have long term experience with tinnitus which you can draw on to help, for you to habituate again. It all depends how severe your tinnitus is and how it is affecting your mental and emotional wellbeing.

I do not agree with the advice the audiologist on YouTube is giving to people. Most audiologists and hearing therapists advise tinnitus patients not to fully mask their tinnitus at any time. Sound enrichment should always be kept slightly below the tinnitus. If the brain cannot hear the tinnitus, then it usually makes habituation more difficult or not at all. As I previously mentioned, totally masking tinnitus one risks making it worse. Try using low-level sound enrichment using a sound machine. You don't have to play it right through the night since many sound machines have timers, therefore, you can build up time slowly.

Taking into account of what I mentioned above regarding the severity of your tinnitus and the impact it has on your daily life, you could try self-help first before seeking professional help. It is just a suggestion. If you want to try self-help first, then this is what I suggest.

The posts that I have mentioned you to read on my started threads I advise you to print. They are a form of counselling. By taking your time to read them, you will absorb and retrain the information better than reading on your phone or computer screen. Refer to them often and this will help to reinforce positive thinking. Positivity is one of the most important elements in habituating to tinnitus. It takes time and cannot be rushed. I also advise that you read and print my posts: Tinnitus and the Negative Mindset, Acquiring a Positive Mindset.

Once gain, it all depends how severe your tinnitus is and how it's affecting your life. Self-help might be all you need since you have had tinnitus for quite a while.

Best of luck,
Michael

 

My tinnitus story is basically that I had tinnitus in my left ear with some hyperacusis for about 10 years but habituated nicely after about a year or two. I had major anxiety at first but as I habituated, it went away. I did CBT for a while, but stopped when I habituated. About two months ago I was exposed to a loud acoustic shock at work which after a few days resulted in a new high frequent noise at about 13-14 kHz. The new sound is much more intrusive intrusive than the old one.

 

As I suspected, you have what I call variable tinnitus. It usually affects people that have habituated to noise-induced tinnitus for quite a while, then suffered a second noise trauma. The symptoms can vary between people but often, the result is a more severe form of the tinnitus with or without hyperacusis.

In my case it took 4 years to habituate to tinnitus for the second time. Only you know what you're able to endure. If the tinnitus is affecting the quality of your life, to the point you find concentrating on your work or attending college etc difficult, then seeking professional help in the manner I've previously described is your best option.

More information about this type of tinnitus is in my post: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus?

I advise that you don't listen to audio through any type of headphones even at low volume.

Michael

 

That is discouraging, but I guess it is what it is.

To boot I got tinnitus in my right ear as well yesterday. I work as a dockworker and we have old shipping steel containers that are used as an on-site break area. I don’t use it myself but I was standing just outside the container, which is 20 feet long, speaking with a colleague. Another colleague in the other end of the container got up from a heavy and faulty office chair with a metal head rest which then tipped backwards and slammed into the container wall with a bang. I had fortunately covered my bad ear with my helmet earmuff, but my right ear was exposed. I have never really had any problems with my right ear, but after a short while I started getting some pain in my right ear, like a mild ear infection. I asked my colleagues afterward and they said it happens all the time and they didn’t seem to mind the bang all that much. I work night shifts so after work I went to bed. When I woke up I could still feel some pain and I heard a faint beep in my right ear.

I can’t take it anymore. It’s always something. I never get any relief or peace of mind. I am devastated right now. If this keeps up I fear I am going to end up as that 1% who are absolutely destroyed by this condition. As soon as I start to calm down thinking I will be OK something else happens, no matter how careful I am, something even more unforeseen and random happens! Right now I just want to give up and stay at home on the couch with earplugs and earmuffs for the rest of my life just to avoid further damage and anxiety.

 

I feel for you, for I and many people on this forum understand what you are going through. Noise-induced tinnitus and being surrounded by too much noise, just don't go well together and that is the sobering truth I'm afraid. Your work environment could complicate things but since you wear hearing protection, this can be helpful.

Whilst it's not good for someone with noise-induced tinnitus to immerse themselves in quiet surroundings or overly use hearing protection, because this can lower the loudness threshold of the auditory system and make it more sensitive to sound, it's also not good to be around too much noise. It can be a delicate balance but try not to give up. Just take things slowly.

The fact that you are able to work is something positive and with time, I believe your tinnitus will improve, especially with your previous experience with tinnitus to draw on. By all means use hearing protection whilst at work but try not to overdo it. I hope you have printed the posts I recommended, as they will help to give you direction, positivity and purpose.

Take care,
Michael

 

Thank you very much Michael.

I am going to start CBT therapy next week with the audiotherapist, and will take it from there. I hope it can help.

I have a question for you though about headsets. I have stopped using them just to be safe, but I do wonder. How do they damage ears even at low volume? When I used my AirPods Pros for example, I put the volume limit at the lowest setting, 75 dB, and when listening to podcasts or watching videos I set the volume to about half. That exposes me to about 50 to 56 dB according to my iPhone. How do these volumes make tinnitus worse?

 

You are welcome @Dogwhistlehead.

I have written numerous posts about the risks a person with noise-induced tinnitus takes, if they listen to audio through any type of headphones even at low volume. They are available by perusing my post history. I realize that you are new to this forum and therefore I will cover it briefly. At a later date, I hope to write a more in-depth post on headphones and noise induced tinnitus, so that it's easily accessible on my started threads.

I have counselled and corresponded with many people that have noise-induced tinnitus, with or without hyperacusis. Typically, these conditions are caused by listening to audio through some type of headphones at too high a volume. Other forms of exposure to loud noise can cause these symptoms too.

Due to the amount of people that have contacted me and those I have corresponded with at internet forums, complaining their noise-induced tinnitus increased after they had successfully habituated, a picture began to emerge. In most instances the reason their tinnitus increased, was returning to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume. This applies to AirPods, headsets, earbuds, noise cancelling and bone conduction headphones. To me the evidence was overwhelming, that for anyone that has noise-induced tinnitus, risks making it worse if they listen to audio through any type of headphones even at low volume.

I hasten to add, I am specifically referring to people whose tinnitus was caused by exposure to loud noise. Those with other types of tinnitus are not so easily affected by headphone use. However, I still advise people that have any type of tinnitus not to listen to audio through headphones even at low volume. It is true that some people with noise-induced tinnitus are not adversely affected by headphone use, but the risk is always there in my opinion. Type headphones in the search box at the top of this page and read the posts.

I don't believe the ear and auditory system are ever quite the same after a person develops noise-induced tinnitus, with or without hyperacusis. They may successfully habituate in time, but the auditory system, in my opinion, is always vulnerable if exposed to overly loud sounds or listens to audio through headphones. The ear canal is approximately 25mm in length. When listening to audio through headphones, earbuds, headsets etc even at low volume, sound waves are generated and have no place to go other than in one direction, straight towards the ear drum. Some people argue that hearing aids and white noise generators are the same as earbuds but this is not the case.

White noise generators and hearing aids don’t usually irritate the auditory system due to the volume being kept low and its frequency range remaining constant, which is unlike music that is constantly changing in pitch, rhythm and timber. In addition to this, the sound through white noise generators and hearing aids is delivered through a small plastic tube, that goes over the back of the ear and enters the entrance to the ear canal. At the end of the tube there is a tiny aperture/hole where sound emits. Therefore these devices are not speakers.

Headphones and earbuds use a large speaker/diaphragm in comparison. They make music by generating sound waves into the ear which can cause irritation. My post: Can I Habituate to Variable Tinnitus?, mentions the risk anyone takes that has noise-induced tinnitus and uses headphones or is exposed of overly loud sounds regularly. A person with this type of tinnitus shouldn't put total trust in hearing protection either. The reason being, if external sound is loud enough, it can pass through the head and transfer to the inner ear by bone conduction and spike the tinnitus. If the person is fortunate the spike will reduce and the tinnitus returns to baseline level, however, the tinnitus could increase to new permanent level.

Michael