Ear Plugs in the Shower

Jason123

Member
Author
Benefactor
Jun 4, 2013
32
Tinnitus Since
06/2008
Lately, it occurred to me that the shower is probably the loudest noise I subject myself to on the average day - certainly on days when I stay at home. So I've started wearing waterproof earplugs. Just curious, really: does anyone else do this?
 
Shower, according to a decibel list I found, is said to be 70dB.

Shouldn't cause damage.

I just want to remind everyone that overprotecting the ears won't do them good. Sensitivity to all kinds of sound may ensue.

Better to be safe than sorry, of course, but in the shower... that's maybe overdoing it :)

What do others think?
 
Thanks Marrku. My ears already do have a sensitivity to certain higher pitches, and I certainly notice loudness more in general, so you probably are right: perhaps this course of action will only add to that!
 
Thanks Marrku. My ears already do have a sensitivity to certain higher pitches, and I certainly notice loudness more in general, so you probably are right: perhaps this course of action will only add to that!

Yeah... I think it's not necessary. I've truthfully never heard anyone suggesting plugs be used while showering.

It's a different matter if you have a perforated ear drum and it needs to be protected from water, but for reasons of loudness... I don't think so.

Have a good rest of the weekend Jason!
 
Hm, I think I read somewhere that inside a car (which has been giving me ear trouble lately), decibel levels are right around 70, so about the same as a shower, then. I'm with Markku, though. No need for them in the shower ... unless you take really long showers.
 
I feel bad för you if you experience showering like that. To me, the shower is a place for relief. I doubt it's dangerous för your ears unless you suffer from hyperacusis.
 
I tried water proof earplugs once, and they tended to bottle up noise of water hitting my ears, etc. Instead of plugs, I do not let the direct force of the shower head blast into my ear. I hold my hand against the flow and let water trickle onto my ears as best as I can.
 
Hey

Because of my T and me not wanting it to worsen, I went through a crazy phase where I would protect my ears from everyday sounds, including the shower. What it did was make my ears worse! Something inside my right ear now tenses up in anticipation to loud sounds and lets out an annoying woosh.

I no longer worry about everyday sounds and things are much better.
 
I'm very careful of what I put in my ears now ... I find the build up of pressure and sweat can do more damage than good. I'd adjust the speed of how fast the water is coming out. Personally I am looking forward to moving to the coast where I can hear the roar of the ocean. :)
 
Every day sounds are great for your T, especially for those with hypercausis, a recent study proved that too little sound can actually worsen your hypercausis and turn up the volume on all channels even more.

Your ears do have safety mechanisms, your T is not gonna get worse within a second unless you are exposed to a sudden gun shot or something.
 
I would not use ear plugs in the shower, as many people before me said, you will feed your hyperacusis and the next step will be to wear ear defenders over the earplugs to stand everyday noise and so on and so on....
a regular 5-10 min shower won't make your Tinnitus worse!
 
Yea I think I read about it on kevin hogan site there is constant noise during a shower and for some reason your more aware of noise because of it so when you turn it off your still a bit wired to noise and it makes the t seems louder. It's normal I think.

^

Is that normal ?
 
^
Is that normal ?

Hmm, that sounds a bit odd to me. The noise is not that great. Maybe it's the water / steam / moisture that does something inside your ear / sinuses? Or is your T sound very similar to the sound of shower? If it is, maybe that amplifies it for a small while somehow?
 
I know change of temperature can cause a temporary spike. Also, some people's t may react to/compete against certain similar frequencies. Often the louder t goes away when the outside noise stops, but sometimes it can linger as a spike - which I understand is called "winding up" or "kindling".
 
I know change of temperature can cause a temporary spike. Also, some people's t may react to/compete against certain similar frequencies. Often the louder t goes away when the outside noise stops, but sometimes it can linger as a spike - which I understand is called "winding up" or "kindling".
How loud is a showerr? Only 70 db?
 
I know change of temperature can cause a temporary spike. Also, some people's t may react to/compete against certain similar frequencies. Often the louder t goes away when the outside noise stops, but sometimes it can linger as a spike - which I understand is called "winding up" or "kindling".

I suppose if it does spike due to temperature it is only temporary:) In my opinion shower is normal noise and can hlep prevent hyperacusis.
 
Same for me..baths too..I wonder if it has more to do with heat, than noise though. Also @here2help if a shower was 70 db and my ldl being so low, doesn't that mean, I must avoid them?

you brain is having an inappropriate reaction in front of normal noises, you have to overcome that.

the very same after you felt from a bicycle, you have to ride it again :)
 
I have h, yet the sounds of a shower is the most soothing place of all. After a shower if I walk into a quiet room, my t seems far more stable, quite like my silence before onset, then slowly the static returns.
Earplugs in a shower is taking it to the extreme imo, as far as I know when using earplugs, many feels the t to be appearing much louder. I know you want to flee from h, isolating yourself with only t to avoid it will just be very counterproductive :)!
 
I suppose if it does spike due to temperature it is only temporary:) In my opinion shower is normal noise and can hlep prevent hyperacusis.

There is a "reactive tinnitus" that can react to normal sounds, usually at the same frequency as the tinnitus. This is not anything to do with hyperacusis.
 
There is a "reactive tinnitus" that can react to normal sounds, usually at the same frequency as the tinnitus. This is not anything to do with hyperacusis.

yes but if you wear plugs around normal sounds you are at the risk of getting hyperacusis, eg. intolerance towards normal sounds in addition to reactive tinnitus.
 
Hmm, that sounds a bit odd to me. The noise is not that great. Maybe it's the water / steam / moisture that does something inside your ear / sinuses? Or is your T sound very similar to the sound of shower? If it is, maybe that amplifies it for a small while somehow?

My normal T is like siting inside the plane, but after the shower it's like I'm sitting near to the plane !
Again, I thought it was normal !
 
My normal T is like siting inside the plane, but after the shower it's like I'm sitting near to the plane !
Again, I thought it was normal !

of course, we all know that tinnitus volume perception isn't accurate.

i got tinnitus in both ears that i hear when everything is quiet, if i plug one of my ears, the volume seems annoying but bearable, now if i plug both my ears, it looks like i have loud speakers blasting tones right into my ears....

so yours might sound like an airplane, sound wise but it's of course not volume wise :)
 
yes but if you wear plugs around normal sounds you are at the risk of getting hyperacusis, eg. intolerance towards normal sounds in addition to reactive tinnitus.

Yes, it is a tricky one. My t is slightly reactive in that way to static environmental sounds around the same frequency as my t - running water, fans, traffic. Very anxiety provoking. I don't wear plugs around these sounds, but I do take anti anxiety meds because of the ever changing t. And usually take baths instead of showers :)
 

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