Going to the Gym with Tinnitus: Worth It?

[lurid-lucid]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask about your habits for protecting your hearing at the gym.

As much as I enjoy weightlifting, the inconsiderate behavior of others ruins my experience and sends my tinnitus-related anxiety into overdrive. I always wear both earplugs and over-ear headphones (not turned on, just for the extra physical barrier), but I still have to plan my workouts around avoiding certain individuals. Some people always slam weights from high distances, crash the cable machines, and generally create unnecessary noise. I've complained, but the behavior keeps coming back, and I can't always predict who will be there.

Unfortunately, my fear of worsening my tinnitus is growing, and I find myself slowly drifting away from the gym. Reading about others experiencing tinnitus spikes from weight-slamming has also made me even more cautious.

For those of you who go to the gym, how do you handle the noise?

 

[Jupiterman]

Has your tinnitus increased as a consequence of the noise at the gym?

 

[MindOverMatter]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask about your habits for protecting your hearing at the gym.

As much as I enjoy weightlifting, the inconsiderate behavior of others ruins my experience and sends my tinnitus-related anxiety into overdrive. I always wear both earplugs and over-ear headphones (not turned on, just for the extra physical barrier), but I still have to plan my workouts around avoiding certain individuals. Some people always slam weights from high distances, crash the cable machines, and generally create unnecessary noise. I've complained, but the behavior keeps coming back, and I can't always predict who will be there.

Unfortunately, my fear of worsening my tinnitus is growing, and I find myself slowly drifting away from the gym. Reading about others experiencing tinnitus spikes from weight-slamming has also made me even more cautious.

For those of you who go to the gym, how do you handle the noise?

I have reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis, and I go to the gym. Some days, my ears are more irritated by the noise level, but most of the time, I have no issues—it doesn't make my condition worse.

My reactivity and hyperacusis have improved a lot compared to before, but I've continued working out throughout this whole experience. The only break I took was for a few months at the very beginning.

I can't speak for others, as everyone's situation is different, and gyms vary as well. What works for me might not work for someone else.

I don't use earplugs at the gym, except for open Flare plugs to slightly dampen certain frequencies. If it ever gets too loud—which rarely happens—I just leave.

 

[RingerBell]

Exercise is generally good for both mood and overall health, making it easier to cope with tinnitus. Lifting heavy weights can fatigue the nervous system, and for me, it temporarily makes my tinnitus louder, likely because it affects sleep and other recovery processes. If my tinnitus stays louder or more intrusive for longer than expected, I try to lower the intensity for a while to give my nervous system a better chance to recover.

Outdoor gyms are a great quieter option. Finding a less crowded gym, a quieter gym, or one with separate rooms for free weights can also help by reducing exposure to loud noises like people dropping barbells. Another option is going during off-peak hours when fewer people are working out.

Personally, I wouldn't work out with earplugs because of the occlusion effect. When we apply tension to our muscles and push hard—like during deep squats or rows—our body generates significant vibrations and infrasound (low-frequency pressure and sound). Normally, these sounds can escape from the ear canal, but with earplugs in place, they get trapped, creating additional pressure and sound inside the ears, even if it's not perceived as "loud."

Lately, I've been working out mostly in outdoor gyms. When I go to an indoor gym, I use ANC headphones or in-ear ANC earbuds if I need to take the edge off the noise between sets.