Gaming Headsets, Which Do You Use After Tinnitus?

[matfromaust]

Hey everyone, for the gamers out there do you still use a gaming headset?

Before my tinnitus I was an avid gamer especially of the battlefield series and would wear a head set as it helps with identifying where the enemy comes from talking to mates etc. Now I have tinnitus if I'm to wear a headset my tinnitus seems to ramp up in volume as they generally block out external noises, it's like cupping your ears.

Just wondering if someone out there has found a pair that doesn't seem to increase the perceived volume of your tinnitus?

Id describe my tinnitus as an upper mild, it's fine most of the time when I'm busy and have noise around me etc but in quiet rooms and when laying down that's when it likes to scream the most. It's also a high pitch ring.

 

[Karl28]

It doesn't really seem worth it.
Just use speakers.

 

[matfromaust]

That's what I'm doing atm but I'm sure people will be getting annoyed that they can hear my gameplay in the background

 

[Zorro!]

If you're a gamer you're no doubt playing games for hours at a time. If you're wearing a headset your ears are being bombarded with ear-deep sound for hours at a time. Since all headsets operate on the same premise (directing sound into your ears) I can't imagine that there would exist one that wouldn't aggravate your tinnitus. I know that sucks but that's reality.

Personally I gave up headsets and ear buds years ago. When I play video games I just use speakers on low volume or even just the TV speaker at times. Yes, it sucks. But what sucks worse is the pain and throbbing that using a headset or ear buds leaves me with. Hell, my ear hurts if I talk on the phone for longer than a few minutes.

Again, it sucks sucks sucks. But that's my reality. I have no choice but to accept it. If I don't then my ears will only get worse. And as much as I want to get the full experience when I buy Fallout 4 I don't think the trade off is worth it.

Just my two cents.

 

[matfromaust]

Funny you should mention fallout, I stopped playing the game because my tinnitus was really getting me down when I tried playing it, I was using the headset because I was chatting to my mate at the same time, it sucks because i bought the pip boy edition for ps4 and limited edition for xboxone thinking I was gonna be mega consumed by it. I never went back

I've been using speakers now but I miss that competitive edge from a good set of headphones, I never played loud with the headphones either just ordinary volume you would listen to TV at.
I hate this because gaming is something I have a big interest in and I love the competitive side of it and honestly the online world is where I do most of my socialising, I've never been interested in going out to nightclubs etc, and it feels like I can't even do that anymore

 

[Jchill]

For gaming I put my headphones at the top of my ears so loud sounds will not go directly into my ear, for music I have some high end earphones but I found earpods to be the most comfortable.

 

[matfromaust]

I could try ear buds again but I've heard conflicting opinions about whether or not you should use them when you have tinnitus.

I've had issues using ear muffs at work (construction worker) after wearing them all day my tinnitus will become worse, sometimes for a few hours. I told my ent this and he said it's better than exposing my ears to loud noises