Parties?

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Hey so sorry if this thread has been posted before (I've looked for it like, a lot, but I couldn't find it)

So for me tinnitus came on with an illness and no ones been able to tell me the cause but as far as anyone's can figure out it was not acoustic trauma/noise damage - I have above average hearing and I can't think of anything close to the onset that might have cause it really. The only thing is an outdoor festival I went to about five days earlier but I was there for twenty minutes max and it wasn't very loud I was talking to me friends just fine, only had to raise my voice a little and no ringing when I got home.

Anyway my question is, we are hosting a house party tonight and I'm scared. I went to one party about three weeks ago that was super loud and caused an extra high pitched loud ringing (which went away the next morning) though I made sure to spend no more than 20 mins inside at a time as far away from the music as I could get, and spent most of the night outside freezing my arse off (I also drank a fair bit). Two nights ago I went to another party wearing earplugs (Alpine PartyPlugs recommended to me by an audiologist) the majority of the night except for later on when the music had been turned off and it was just me and a guy talking. There were only really a few moments where I felt it was loud and I took regular bathroom breaks to get away from the noise and check my ears felt alright which they did. Again I had had quite a bit to drink. When I got home there was such a loud buzzing/ringing in my head it felt like it was going to vibrate off my shoulders and I was crapping myself thinking I'd done something, but when I woke up it was fine, back to my ordinary hissing/ringing baseline.

Despite both these experiences ending up being fine, I'm worried that perhaps my ears are extra susceptible to damage or something given that there's clearly something wrong (if anyone can figure out what please enlighten me), and maybe it's easier to cause noise damage than normal? Another one of my housemates has tinnitus pretty bad, and mild hyperacusis so our party is very unlikely to have music really at all never mind loudly, and since it'll only be about 15 people I can't imagine the noise will be excessive, but I will be drinking - can this cause a spike, and if so could it be permanent? I plan to wear earplugs when I can and keep my phone on me so I can check the decibel levels when I'm worried.

Does anyone think I'm taking too much of a risk given that the last parties caused spikes, even if my original cause isn't noise? Should I just stay in my room instead?

 

[Sam Bridge]

I think it depends how loud the music is. If it feels too loud then it probably is. My friends have gatherings with music but it's not more than about 80db at the loudest, there's no need to go louder than that it's just obnoxious.

Also, as the t has got louder each time for you i'd have the volume lowered or stand well away from the speakers.

 

[JurgenG]

Keep the volume down is an obvious one of course. Even than it might be a good idea to wear some earplugs, since you might be more sensitive than you'd expect.
Other than that? Well, just have fun I guess!
Alcohol might give a temporary (in my experience) spike, I've gotten a really nasty one of alcohol, a few months after I got T. Like you described, but I knew it was because of the alcohol so I did not mind.
Knowing the reason, and that it's temporary helps.

 

[Raphael7713]

I think it depends on what caused your T. I don't know what caused mine and it has never once got affected by music or noise. I have been in loud enviorments and it has never spiked my T. Mine just seems to come and go whenever it feels like it. But with that being said, don't get exposed to loud music for a longer period...and wear protection!

 

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Thank you all for your replies, I am nervous but I'm popping into town this afternoon to get some decent earplugs, will make sure I wear them all evening and keep the music low - then if it does spike at least I'll know it's the alcohol not the noise! I wish I knew the cause it would make it easier to work out what might affect it, just randomly came on with illness x

 

[JohnnyMx]

I will say go,

1) Take care of your ears, use 30db + earplugs, put them on before you get in, take them off after you leave.

2) Stay away from loud speakers.

3) Enjoy some Margaritas and have fun.

I promote to live as normal as you could... If this is just a party, a not a Metal Concert, then you should keep your social life.

Most of the times, depression and anxiety, because of social isolation, is worst than the T by itself.

Regards,

 

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Got 16-25 dB plugs but it's really more of a gathering than a party it turns out (good!) only quiet music in the background so hopefully I will be okay if I keep my plugs in - couple of glasses of wine in now so see you all soon thanks for your reply x

 

[jer]

I would say the following. Every time you get a higher pitched ringing in your ears after another acoustic event, it can or cannot go away. That is the problem, you never know what is going to happen to you. So you need to asses the risk of going to a party for a few hours is worth the risk of ending up with permanently worse tinnitus that might affect all other parts of your live and can make it very difficult for you to have a normal life going forward. Or you could be one of the people who can have no problems with these events at all and be totally fine. That's the dilemma with this. Nobody can really give you a definitive idea of whats going to happen. We can only give you our personal stories and offer some (hopefully good) practical advice.

One thing I would say is to try and not drink too much as alcohol can have an adverse effect on your tinnitus and can also make you more callous in protecting hearing, moving away from speakers etc. also make sure you always wear the best ear protection (I reccomend musician 30db custom made plugs if you can afford it). Take breaks in the party (step outside to get some air, give your ears 10 minutes to relax). Most of all this is important to see and check how your ears are doing throughout the night so you can take action accordingly.

 

[Bill Bauer]

maybe it's easier to cause noise damage than normal

Yes, now that our ears have been compromised, a noise that a healthy person won't even notice, could potentially permanently push tinnitus into debilitating territory. Ear plugs might not provide enough protection. There are many horror stories on this forum about people going to parties or a pub, and regretting it.

You might also want to stay away from moderate noises like that of a vacuum cleaner.

 

[GeorgiaRose1812]

Yes, now that our ears have been compromised, a noise that a healthy person won't even notice, could potentially permanently push tinnitus into debilitating territory. Ear plugs might not provide enough protection. There are many horror stories on this forum about people going to parties or a pub, and regretting it.

You might also want to stay away from moderate noises like that of a vacuum cleaner.

Yes my housemates have already got into the habit of warning me when the vacuum cleaner will be on and other similar noises - I'm just so tiredd of having to second guess what my ears will do all the time I'm normally such a carefree person, I wish there were any definitive answers at all tonight seemed okay, I kept my plugs in the whole time and the ringing seemed as normal after everyone had left but then I took my plugs out since it was just me, one housemate and the radio (quiet) and it seems louder.... luckily this was the last event I have on my calendar till my 21st birthday on dec 21st so I can just keep completely away from similarly noisy events till then..... maybe I can't even go to my own 21st haha.