Tinnitus Talk Support Forum

Could it be just the weirdness of going from the muffled feeling back to normal hearing? Maybe I'm just noticing my T more? Or could it be that the noise reduction was insufficient? I felt proud of myself for braving the vacuum cleaner but now I'm doubting myself.

I think you hit the nail on the head with you noticing it more after using the muffs. The sound isolation with the muffs on give you and your brain nothing but tinnitus to listen to. Then you take them off and it seems to ramp up when you introduce outside sound. I think our brains are still focused on the horrible tinnitus sound with the muffs on. I hope it fades for you.

I have the same experience after using the muffs on the subway.

Try those ear muffs with ear buds inside them but not in Your ears with Your favorite sound or music at a low volume of course.

@Dylan Blake
Adding more sound would not make the decibel level of the vacuum go down.

Your not adding more sound, your diverting Your attention away from Tinnitus.

Diverting my attention would not make the decibel level of the vacuum go down. It would not prevent further damage to my ear if indeed the vacuum was too loud.