Lynnette... Yeah I can really relate. I miss dance so much it hurts whenever I think about it or torture myself by looking at an old video out of nostalgia. Football is no loss as I never was into those kind of sports - but same thing. A super noisy environment is DANGER once you have tinnitus and IT CAN go up without protection (or not enough protection). I am walking proof of that fact!!!
However, I see from your (somewhat scant
) profile...that you have only had tinnitus since August 2013. Now don't get me wrong, I know that feels like a long time and it's a
lot longer those those people in the videos who just laugh when their ears ring, then it goes away after a short while. Geez, in the military it is 100% normal to be almost deaf from a fire-fight if got caught without ear protection (radio muffs) on for quite some time...even days afterwards. Somehow this is accepted as "OK"!!! A total mystery to me, as my answer would be: "YOU DO NOT WANT THIS CONDITION FULL TIME - TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Sigh...but that does not seem to be happening. God knows what the "ipod generation's" hearing and tinnitus rate is going to be when they get older!
So back to you. I use good quality, simple 'accordion type' latex-rubber? earplugs for a few $ and they work better than anything else I have found for "full protection" mode. I can still hear through them but feel totally safe. They are much more protective than Bose Noise-Cancelling earmuffs for hundreds of dollars (a client gave me a pair for present). "Sonic" diaphragm plugs are as good as the Bose for where I want to hear more and cost a fraction of the price, around $12 or $15. I never leave the house without both types in my pocket.
Lastly - "Lifelong"....Maybe. Probably. But not necessarily. Also, adaption is real.
You would not believe what I was doing in November 2012 compared to what I was NOT doing in 2006 after I got a new jump up in tinnitus
and the addition of hyepracusis, I was totally unable to be around sound of even the most normal and quiet kind without protection. Gun-to-the-head condition, but I was too much of a wreck to get a gun. Waiting times, forms to fill in, questions to answer...Ha, ha. Can you imagine?!
"Sir, why do you want to buy a gun?" - "To shoot myself in the head." - "Ha, ha, ha...that's a good one. Ha, ha...but you still have to wait x weeks and do a firing range evaluation with the police department"...."Forget it, I want one now!"..."Sorry sir, can't do that, who knows, you may be looney tune or want to commit suicide or something, and then I would be in unpopular position. It's a family business you know. I have a reputation." ..."Ummm, forget it".
So there is much hope. It takes
time...
and avoiding football live games, hydrogen balloons blowing up, etc. - in my humble opinion.
Take care... Zimichael