Earmuffs, Earplugs or Filter Earplugs — Can Wearing Them Make Tinnitus Worse?

[Rajin]

I have had tinnitus for 11 months, no more hyperacusis. I used get bothered by dishes and loud conversations. It doesn't bother me that much anymore, but I don't try to get in conversation for long and don't hang around the kitchen too long.

But I noticed when I am wearing my earmuffs, earplugs or filter earplugs, I feel my tinnitus gets louder. I hear my tinnitus more. Can this make my tinnitus get bad again. I work around loud noise about 80 dB so I have to protect my ears.

I know that you can get hyperacusis from overprotecting, seem I am ok with hyperacusis, but can it make your tinnitus get worse?

 

[Bill Bauer]

But I noticed when I am wearing my earmuffs, earplugs or filter earplugs, I feel my tinnitus gets louder. I hear my tinnitus more.

Are you sure it is actually louder? Couldn't it be easier to hear without any sounds in your environment masking it?

 

[Rajin]

Correct. Yes not louder but easier to hear . Like you said no outside sound to mask it. I just I feel better since I do protect my ears at work and restaurant that are loud. I am getting used to this , but I don't want it to get worse. It getting better as time goes by. Like you say is correct, but I want to know if that can harm you @Bill Bauer .

 

[Bill Bauer]

Like you say is correct, but I want to know if that can harm you @Bill Bauer .

I don't see how you could possibly be harmed...

 

[bSiDeQuiEtWaTeRS]

@Rajin I have wondered the same thing...I don't know definitively but feel it cannot be that bad of an influence on your ears. In my case I would rather take whatever slight (if I may say so) damage wearing earplugs a lot gives me than the presumably worse damage that exposure to loud sounds or uncomfortable noise levels gives me.

...And I do wear earplugs quite a stinkin' bit.

 

[Imshael]

Hi @Rajin ! I'm guessing that it's due to the fact that you lower all other sounds around you, and therefore your tinnitus appears louder (or easier to hear). I really don't think this can cause any kind of harm, just make sure to keep your earplugs clean and change them from time to time.

 

[Red]

You're not alone or imagining it. When I wear these things, especially for more than a few seconds, my tinnitus is louder even after I stop wearing them. These spikes have never been permanent but they do happen to me.

Although I have had good experiences with filtered ear plugs. I'd use them more if they didn't upset my facial pain.