Poll: After Getting Tinnitus, Do You Still Use Headphones/Headsets?

[vaseto99]

I'm interested to know if people still use headphones/headsets after getting tinnitus.

 

[Shera]

I've been curious as well. Mine was not noise induced and I did give them up for about 4 months when my T got worse. Didn't help it.

I do however practice safe headphone use. I've never been one to wear them around and out. So I just watch it at night for TV/internet use. It never goes above a certain volume/decimal range.

 

[CrystalB]

My tinnitus wasn't noise induced, I really don't know what caused it, but I don't use headphones/headsets. I'm not so careful I can't enjoy life but it does make me more aware what loud noises can do without you knowing what it's doing to your ears.

 

[GregCA]

I still use them with caution WRT volume, as recommended by all my doctors.

 

[Agrajag364]

I stopped using them. I used to use them hours a day, for years, to listen to podcasts and maybe music when I was younger. But never ever at a high volume. I don't know whether they can be a factor in tinnitus if you don't listen to them at a high volume. I stopped using them just in case

 

[ringringer]

I still use them; without music I'd be too miserable. And my T is not affected by headphones anyway, it decreases and increases as it wishes to.
My volume never exceeds 50% ( if it ever goes up that high even ) and I take 30 minute breaks between each hour. Also I no longer listen to music in noisy environments, I wait until I'll reached somewhere somewhat silent.

 

[Jack Straw]

My doctors have told me that 60% volume is safe, but this seems so subjective. One pair of headphones at 60% volume can be significantly louder than another at 60%. I am currently abstaining to let ears heal a bit more, but I think that LOW VOLUME (20-30%) range would be okay.

If you can't hear your music at a low volume because of the environment your in is too loud, DON'T increase the volume. A lot of people don't realize that when they increase the volume to drown out the noisy environment they are potentially listening to something at dangerous levels.

@vaseto99, I see by your mood that your not doing too well. Hang in there man, it gets better over time. I know that at times it doesn't seem like that, but it does. I hope you start feeling better soon.

Jack

 

[MidnightOilAudio]

I still use headphones, albeit rarely. I never use earbuds. I try a common sense approach and just keep the level to what feels like a "sane" volume TO ME. This may not be for everyone, if you have any history with hyperacousis, I would stay away from headphones.

 

[Mark5398]

I used to avoid them but now I use them almost every day for hours.

Curiously, my T got better since I decided not to give a f**k about it and got back to enjoying music a few months ago.

However, I always enhance the frequencies I struggle to hear so the overall volume level is fairly low.
Also, being the headphones noise cancelling they help me cut out the kind of noise that spikes my T such as car, train or plane.

 

[kelpiemsp]

I use them everyday! Low volumes of course.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I still use them; without music I'd be too miserable.

Why can't you use speakers?

 

[Red]

No, I do not anymore. But for a couple of months after getting T I kept using them. I had rather minor T and completely habituated at that point. Also, I could handle loud areas just fine. I walked into an arcade and had a blast.

Then headphones made it worse because of a loud, unexpected sound from them which I had absolutely zero control over. It made my tinnitus permanently worse.

 

[Mark5398]

I should have specified: within reason. I still protect my hearing and I use headphones at low level.
What I meant is that I try not to let my T control my life. Again, as much as possible

 

[coffee_girl]

My gf without T once put on headphones next to me...and though the volume was preset it opened with a shriek because her husband recently installed a windows 10 update to her computer. I could hear that feedback from across the room...if you use headphones make sure you test the volume FIRST before you put it on.

Also I would set up ad block so random videos are not playing when you surf the web, those auto-play ads are culprits for being obnoxiously loud...be careful dudes

 

[ringringer]

Why can't you use speakers?

I'm sort of dorming right now, can't have my music bothering my roommate.
Plus I just prefer headphones for music.

 

[MichaelF6161]

I have used headphones and earbuds, with reasonable volume limits always, all my life. Now that I have T, I still use them, and it is suggested to do so by many audiologist who recommend sound therapies such as Neuromonics, CR Neurmodulation, Notched Music, etc.

I keep seeing members stating NEVER use either if you have T, but that doesn't make sense to me especially if you have hearing aids that deliver masking or other sound therapies too. How can a hearing aid, which is the closest of all devices to the structures of your ear, be safe, yet earbuds and headphones aren't?

Yes, I understand the importance of volume control, and the issues of surfing or watching TV and having unexpected volume increases with ads, etc. I don't use them for that. Music, sound therapy, watching videos or movies, etc.

Since I've gotten my T, I've not noticed any worsening when I use them. My T is noise induced.

Anyway, interesting thread.

 

[juliob]

I still use them while playing online with my friends.

Also, I use them at the subway train to listen to music in a moderate volume. It does not seem to affect my tinnitus.

 

[Huradozih]

I still use them with the lowest volume possible! For example, while listening to music with iPhone, I set 2 dots out of 17 of the volume

 

[Deamon22]

I don't use them anymore altough i don't believe headpohones on very low volume will cause problems. As always volume matters. But of course there is the risk of sudden loud noise because of malfunction.

While gaming i sometimes use my headset with microphone around my neck to talk to people.

 

[Alex Matyjasek]

I still haven't had the guts to try them yet. Probably in the near future i'll see how it goes. In the meantime I prefer my ears to heel eventhough mine isn't sound induced.

 

[Artazanasss]

Hell no i don't and i will never use them again.Headphones pretty much ruined my entire life i know that is because i used them irresponsible on max volume for two whole years.
But still if i was using speakers instead of headphones even on the loud volume i guarantee you that i wouldn't have the same problem or atleast not to this extend i know this for a fact because i used speakers when playing XBOX 360 and watched movies loudly and i never had any hearing loss until i started using headphones severe hidden hearing loss sucks it's a fucking nightmare i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.
I just want people to learn from my life never play with your health it's not worth it.If you use headphones use them on the lowest volume possible.

 

[dpdx]

NEVER AGAIN

 

[Luman]

No, I don't. I will use headphones again - after scientists discover a way to cure tinnitus 100% forever.

 

[rdz]

I wonder if headphones will be safe to use if a cure is found. I stopped using headphones for now but might start again in a couple months.

 

[Contrast]

I'll use them on low-mid volumes once in a while but it isn't something I do casually anymore.

I would never ever listen to loud music through headphones nor recommend use them daily in a work environment.

I wouldn't even listen to loud music without headphones.

 

[Lilah]

Stopped using headphones. Even if I have to use it in the future, such as online training at work, I will keep the volume low or instead use the subtitles if that is an option. Thankfully, my coworker is fine with me playing masking sounds (from my phone) at work.

 

[Emperor-Drax]

I use really, really big speakers! 7.1 channels of sound, 185 watt main speakers, THX certified 200 watt amplification per channel, Super Audio CD multichannel music zig-zagging across the soundscape, a 250 watt subwoofer that makes thunderstorms blush. Soon I'll install Dolby Atmos and really crank this baby up. Next time I watch Independence Day, I really will feel like I'm in the middle of a coordinated alien attack.

 

[rdz]

I use really, really big speakers! 7.1 channels of sound, 185 watt main speakers, THX certified 200 watt amplification per channel, Super Audio CD multichannel music zig-zagging across the soundscape, a 250 watt subwoofer that makes thunderstorms blush. Soon I'll install Dolby Atmos and really crank this baby up. Next time I watch Independence Day, I really will feel like I'm in the middle of a coordinated alien attack.

So you watch movies using your home theater? How loud would you say it gets before it gets uncomfortable?

 

[Emperor-Drax]

So you watch movies using your home theater? How loud would you say it gets before it gets uncomfortable?

I've never measured it. Not stupidly loud, just enough for some good punch, but I know that doesn't mean much in text across the internet. I will say though that a decent set of hi-fi speakers with good amplification will have a softness and sweetness to them that will be kind to your ears at moderate to sort-of-high volume. Forget that harsh tinny screeching you'll get from modern TV speakers that'll wake a dead wookiee.

 

[Digital Doc]

I rarely used headphones before, and since T, I dont use them at all. Dont miss them at all.