Have to Fly for the First Time Since Developing Tinnitus

[Ed209]

But I think 3 flights in a row was a little too much for my ears, and each time we landed I had more difficulties in equalizing, and I had to do the valsava's manouvre, which I do not like doing, and my ears stayed with a full feeling and my T was higher for a few days as my ears didn't equalize fully, and I needed to go back to masking before sleep...

This is exactly the same issue I had. The problem occurred on the fifth flight of 6 in the space of 3 weeks. I can voluntarily equalise my ears by controlling the muscle that opens the eustachian tubes. On this particular occasion I realised my ears were blocked because I couldn't equalise them no matter what. The pressure starts to build and pain begins to grow around the ear drums as they are pulled in. At the same it's hard to hear properly. I also did the valsalva, and I hate doing it, but saw no other option. I didn't want my eardrum to remain under the pressure it was through fear of it rupturing, yet at the same time I feared rupturing it doing the valsalva. I just did it as gently as possible, and as I did it I could fear my ears squelching as air was being pushed past all the mucous. Then I got that pop and my hearing came back online.

The problem was that I was bunged up. I took decongestants and breathed some menthol steam in because I had to fly again the following day. I was a bit apprehensive to say the least, but I had no problem. I think the drugs and steam worked as I felt clearer and could voluntarily open my eustachian tubes again.

 

[wags]

Just got a reading of the plane landing + jet brake, 98db for about 15 seconds, little loud!

 

[Ludvik]

How did the flights go, @Scottrock ?

 

[Scottrock]

OK thanks Ludvik,
Hasn't been great since though. I've got 3 flights to take tomorrow. I think it's the fear of what might be that's throwing me into panic. And I need sleep which is not coming easy.

 

[Ed209]

Just got a reading of the plane landing + jet brake, 98db for about 15 seconds, little loud!

That app on an iPhone was one of the most inaccurate for me. I can't say what it's like on any other phone, with different hardware, but on iPhone the +- was just so far off that there was no point bothering with it. It was overreading by at least 10db in most cases.

You have to be wary with the phone apps. Some of them are terrible; others can be calibrated which makes them more effective.

 

[Lex]

@Ed209, what's an app you can recommend?

 

[Ed209]

OK thanks Ludvik,
Hasn't been great since though. I've got 3 flights to take tomorrow. I think it's the fear of what might be that's throwing me into panic. And I need sleep which is not coming easy.

Fear and anxiety are one of the biggest problems. Try to relax and you'll be fine.

 

[Ed209]

@Ed209, what's an app you can recommend?

I'd recommend SPLnFFT, Studio Six Digital's RTA, SoundMeter or SoundScope Pro, both by Fabre Acoustical. I've only tried SPLnFFT, which is good enough for my needs. The others cost more but are likely more accurate. In all cases these apps will be more accurate if you use the i436 calibrated mic. This will make your iPhone IEC61672 Class 2 and ANSI s1.4 compliant. Basically good enough to use as legal evidence.

 

[Lex]

Thanks, @Ed209! I'm using Decibel 10th, though I already suspected it was giving me inflated measurements.

 

[Ed209]

Further to the post above, I'll post some images below to show you some of the features. You can show a histogram or bar chart of the various frequency levels and their relative levels in dbA, dbB or dbC. It's not going to be entirely accurate (it's close enough and gives a good indicator), but you can buy an external calibrated mic called i436 which would make it very accurate.

 

[Ed209]

Thanks, @Ed209! I'm using Decibel 10th, though I already suspected it was giving me inflated measurements.

You're right. I was using that for a while over a year ago and the measurements were concerning me because it made me believe that pretty much everything was dangerous. Then I got a soundmeter and couldn't believe how inaccurate it was. Some of the upper measurements were out by precisely 13dbA. That's when I tried a few other apps as sort of an experiment, and found that all the free ones I tried were totally worthless. You need one that can be tested and calibrated.

This is the i436 mic http://proaudioblog.co.uk/2012/04/review-micw-ios-microphones-i436i456i266/

You can get them for around £72

 

[Ed209]

I know I'm waffling on now, but I believe part of the problem is the sheer amount of people using free apps to assess noise. It's giving people a false sense of how loud certain noises actually are.

100db is seriously loud. A free app in some circumstances would have you believing that 85db is what a 100db sounds like. There's a program in the U.K. Called QI and they recently had a whole episode about noise. They had Corey Taylor, the SlipKnot vocalist on. He pointed out that their shows top out at 109db and they don't go above. He also correctly pointed out how LOUD that is. Yet, I've seen people on here talking about cinemas hitting 130db!! It's crazy.

At that volume I can guarantee there would be no one left in the room. It is well beyond the pain threshold.

I think when people post experiences of noise, based on free app measurements, it can alter people's perspective somewhat of what a real 80-100db situation is.

 

[maltese]

@Ed209 what dB meter do you use? I'm looking for something small and cheap but relatively accurate.

I'd rather buy an actual dB meter than an app I use a free dB app and I have no idea how accurate it is.

 

[Ed209]

I use a device called the MS10 (dr meter). It is rated somewhere around +- 1.5db and meets both IEC 651 / IEC 60651 and ANSI s1.4 standards. It's not going to be the most accurate across all the frequencies compared to a more expensive device, but it's accurate enough to know what's safe. More accurate than an app.

 

[Ed209]

Here's a picture of it:

 

[Julien87]

It seems great, thanks for the advice Ed. I consider buying it (if anyone is wondering, I just had a look online and it's about 20€).
I should really stop relying on the free app I have (decibel 10th or something). And I wanted to try the one you suggested but it's not supported by my phone (iOS version anterior to 8)

 

[wags]

Wow @Ed209 , thanks for the input!

It was overreading by at least 10db in most cases.

With the free version of Decibel 10th, you could only read using dbZ, which actually turns out to be about 7-10db higher than dbA. With the full version, you do get access to dbA, dbB, and dbC functionality, so if you are using dbZ then those measurements are inflated. (which is lame because dbA should be the standard... so I guess it proves your point )

That being said,

You need one that can be tested and calibrated.

I completely agree. It's so hard to find reliable data around all of these apps and proper ear care in general. The layperson isn't going to be able to pick up a db meter and know that it's inaccurate, or which weighting to use, or what frequency response my phone can pick up, etc. I'm going to take your post to heart and pick up SPLnFFT. Maybe if I'm feeling daring after my Christmas bonus I'll go for the i436 and run a couple of tests.

I'm with you on fighting the fear, but it seems like the cards are stacked against us!

 

[Ed209]

Wow @Ed209 , thanks for the input!


With the free version of Decibel 10th, you could only read using dbZ, which actually turns out to be about 7-10db higher than dbA. With the full version, you do get access to dbA, dbB, and dbC functionality, so if you are using dbZ then those measurements are inflated. (which is lame because dbA should be the standard... so I guess it proves your point )

That being said,

I completely agree. It's so hard to find reliable data around all of these apps and proper ear care in general. The layperson isn't going to be able to pick up a db meter and know that it's inaccurate, or which weighting to use, or what frequency response my phone can pick up, etc. I'm going to take your post to heart and pick up SPLnFFT. Maybe if I'm feeling daring after my Christmas bonus I'll go for the i436 and run a couple of tests.

I'm with you on fighting the fear, but it seems like the cards are stacked against us!

Absolutely Wags, it's a minefield out there. You can buy calibration devices which you hold against your microphone. They usually calibrate 1000hz to 94db, so basically you adjust the gain on the mic until they match. Calibration can only be done on paid apps or the more expensive dedicated devices. The dedicated meter I've got is apparently pre-calibrated, but I doubt this would last long; as in years. All measuring equipment has to be continually calibrated to ensure accuracy; my blood pressure monitor needs to be sent back for calibration after 2 years. It's also how people get away with speeding tickets. If the prosecution cannot prove the camera was calibrated (in the last 3 months, in the U.K. I believe) then there's no case.

I am also looking into the i436 mic option as I carry my phone everywhere anyway. The bonus for me is that I can use it to record better audio when making student videos as well.

 

[Ed209]

@wags, I've just updated decibel 10th and they have changed it. There was no paid version back when I used it so it may have been improved somewhat.

 

[Mario martz]

This is exactly the same issue I had. The problem occurred on the fifth flight of 6 in the space of 3 weeks. I can voluntarily equalise my ears by controlling the muscle that opens the eustachian tubes. On this particular occasion I realised my ears were blocked because I couldn't equalise them no matter what. The pressure starts to build and pain begins to grow around the ear drums as they are pulled in. At the same it's hard to hear properly. I also did the valsalva, and I hate doing it, but saw no other option. I didn't want my eardrum to remain under the pressure it was through fear of it rupturing, yet at the same time I feared rupturing it doing the valsalva. I just did it as gently as possible, and as I did it I could fear my ears squelching as air was being pushed past all the mucous. Then I got that pop and my hearing came back online.

The problem was that I was bunged up. I took decongestants and breathed some menthol steam in because I had to fly again the following day. I was a bit apprehensive to say the least, but I had no problem. I think the drugs and steam worked as I felt clearer and could voluntarily open my eustachian tubes again.

this is what scares me, everytime i fly my ears hurts a lot and there is a lot of pressure

 

[Marcos Que]

How what your flight?