Working Out and Headphones

Greetings,

Have had tinnitus since May of 2017. Cause most likely due to lots of in ear headphones. Since then have not used headphones from fear of getting worse and that the general consensus on the forum is that headphones are bad.

I want to start working out again, however, I am finding it really difficult without headphones (especially when doing cardio).

Does anyone here have any tips for working out without headphones?

Does anyone use headphones/ear buds when working out and have not had any increase in tinnitus?

 

Well, there is a lot of discussion about headphones, I would personally only use them when I need them. (As I do now rarely). And avoid them where you don't actually need them.
It's not like you can't do cardio without them, right? I always went for a run with headphone, and it's more fun with them, but you'll get used to it without them.

 

I personally find myself more focused without music during my workouts, I just zone out to the sound of myself breathing. Maybe try listening to music (not loudly of course) on speakers for a bit right before you go on your run to get yourself psyched up?

 

Hi @GamingT

Since your tinnitus was caused by headphones, I advise you not to use them again even at low volume. I use a crosstrainer/elliptical machine at home and a JVC Boombox supplies the music while working out. Any music source should suffice.

Michael

 

I am a regular at the gym and they always have great music on. using ear buds can still be an issue because the gym music can be kinda loud and you might need, to raise the volume on your smartphone. I'd avoid this and just listen to the gym music and workout.

 

I wouldn't say there is consensus on the forum... it's quite controversial to say the least.

My advice is to talk to your doctor(s) about it. I did, and it provided a very different perspective on headphone use.

Good luck!

 

I say don't use headphones of any kind, in-ear or over. You could accidentally slide the volume all the way to max and get a spike as a result. I think it should be fine if you listen to it at low volume in a quiet environment, but do you really want to take that risk?

 

I did talk to my audiologist who himself has tinnitus, and he says he doesn't see a problem so long as volume is low. I only work out 30 - 45 minutes a session. I cannot run do to back issues so have to use elliptical for cardio workout.

But yeah, the risk does seem to great. Really sucks; no more concerts, movies, and now harder to focus workouts.

 

@GamingT

It is true some people with "noise induced tinnitus" as your Audiologist probably has, use headphones and keep the volume low and have no problems. There are many posts in this forum, written by people that have noise induced tinnitus. They returned to using headphones and kept the volume low and the tinnitus increased and will not return to its previous level. People that have tinnitus which wasn't caused by "loud noise" are less likely to be affected by headphone use.

The choice is yours. knowing how debilitating tinnitus can be when it is severe, I would never use them again.

Michael

 

That's also what all my doctors told me, and it's the advice I've followed with success so far.
I'm as cognizant of the risks of using headphones as I am of the risks of denying myself an activity that lifts my mood.
Good luck!

 

I would like to point out that hearing aids are also "headphones"...

 

I would like to point out they certainly are not.....

 

Why not? They are speakers in the immediate vicinity of the ear and eardrum. Isn't it?

 

There is really no point in me explaining the difference between a hearing aid and a headphone/earbuds if you really think there is no difference.
I wish you well.
Michael

 

I don't like any disagreement with you. I really like your contributions here. Only the headphone refusal is strange.
Why should the input on the eardrum produced by a headphone be more harmful than exactly the same input on the eardrum without headphones?
And of course every hearing aid has a loudspeaker, just like every headset...

 

Your username is interesting @Tinniger , makes me think of bad words

 

@Michael Leigh can't explain it, it's his style to part a conversation when he has no outs. He knows he's wrong but is too arrogant to admit it.

 

You again. Always here to stir up trouble...

 

HI @Tinniger
Thank you for your kind words. Since you have been polite about this and showed manners and respect, I will tell you the difference between a Hearing aid and headphones. I will send you a private message and ask you not to place it in the main forum. I do not want rude people like @Onsdag to be any the wiser. Let him bask in wonderful ignorance.

Take care
Michael

PS: I will send you a PM tomorrow as it's late here....

 

While I no longer use earphones or headphones, I do believe earphones are worse for your ears and probably caused my tinnitus. It's the lack of frequency range in earphones that gradually caused hearing loss for me at 6kHz which also happens to be my tinnitus tone.