Hyperacusis with Pain: How Often Do You Have to Ride in a Car?

[GoatSheep]

I just made another thread describing the severity of my recent worsening.

I have to take my kids to school and pick them up daily. My sons would ride a separate bus than my daughter which would require me to leave the house anyway and drive her down the road and wait each morning. Really getting them on and off the bus would be pretty loud.

So I drive about six miles a day. I am protecting 24/7, but I'm worried about worsening or not improving because of these types of activities. From reading I perceive most people that have no sound tolerance leave the house as little as possible.

Am I correct in thinking with my level of severity and the amount I'm having to leave home that this is a bad situation?

 

[StoneInFocus]

If you want to be certain you are exposed to the least amount of noise as possible, I'd suggest to have custom earplugs made, and wear earmuffs on top of them.

6 mile drive must be about 10 minutes in the car, right? This amount of time in the car has not given me trouble before, although, looking at the other thread you made, it does seem like you are more sensitive to me, so it's not really something I can say for sure.

In that thread you say that you are worried that (purposefully) exposing yourself to sound a little each day might aggravate your condition. I would say you are correct.

The only thing that has significantly improved my condition is avoiding all sounds that I experience as hurtful or uncomfortable. I also try to adjust the time spent outside my home in accordance with how severe my hyperacusis symptoms are.

I would suggest to do everything in your power to prevent being exposed to painful sounds. You have to be very very vigilant with this condition to avoid worsening.

 

[GoatSheep]

If you want to be certain you are exposed to the least amount of noise as possible, I'd suggest to have custom earplugs made, and wear earmuffs on top of them.

6 mile drive must be about 10 minutes in the car, right? This amount of time in the car has not given me trouble before, although, looking at the other thread you made, it does seem like you are more sensitive to me, so it's not really something I can say for sure.

In that thread you say that you are worried that (purposefully) exposing yourself to sound a little each day might aggravate your condition. I would say you are correct.

The only thing that has significantly improved my condition is avoiding all sounds that I experience as hurtful or uncomfortable. I also try to adjust the time spent outside my home in accordance with how severe my hyperacusis symptoms are.

I would suggest to do everything in your power to prevent being exposed to painful sounds. You have to be very very vigilant with this condition to avoid worsening.

I'm not sure about getting a custom mold right now since I'd have to go somewhere additional to do so and expose my ears to a technician when they are already so sensitive. I should have them already really, I've had this condition for nearly three years. I was stupid. I was nowhere near this bad off before. I'd say I was mild.

I wear double protection when driving currently. 3M 1100 earplugs with 3M Optime 98 earmuffs on top. Sometimes it seems my ears aren't bothered and others they ache and are sensitive after the trip. It would be about 10 minutes, but of course I have to wait in line to drop off the kids at the door so even when I try to time it my best it's closer to 15-20 minutes with the waiting.

Thanks for the suggestion on the sound exposures. For now I have stopped them entirely. I just try to document how often I have a pain cycle nowadays and how intense to see if the trend is up or down. No real pattern so far.