Sky Diving and Tinnitus — Is It Safe?

[BobDigi]

I'm turning 40 next month, and I was correct in thinking my wife was about to arrange a sky dive as a birthday present. It's something I've always wanted to do. She knows my tinnitus has spiked over the last 2 weeks.

She thought it might not be a good idea, so rather than surprise me with it, decided to ask me if it's what I wanted.

I had to tell her thanks, but I don't think I should do it.

Am I being over paranoid or sensible?

 

[Michael B]

Trying to think of what could go wrong with your tinnitus? Air pressure, altitude, wind speed?

 

[JohnAdams]

that's gonna be loud. I wouldn't.

 

[BobDigi]

Air pressure, altitude, wind speed?

It's partly the noise of the plane and the noise while falling, but i think it's mostly sudden change in air pressure.

 

[coffee_girl]

Ear plugs?

 

[BobDigi]

that's gonna be loud. I wouldn't.

Thanks John, that's what I'm thinking.

 

[Zug]

I guess as safe as skydiving is.

I didn't skydive, but since getting Tinnitus I rode Rollercoasters, went to parties, etc. Sounds that can harm you is a function of loudness X exposure time. Doesn't look to me it would harmful.

Forget about it if you have any ear or other condition that might prevent that.

 

[Elfin]

I do not know if it is safe or not, but I was faced with the same choice as you on my 27th birthday. I can tell you that I didn't do it. My reasoning was the possible wind noise, given the speeds you'll be falling.

It also isnt as though you can just get back on the plane either...

Let us know what you decide and how you get on!

 

[marc 1974 london]

If it helps, I ride motocross quite a bit, have done for over 36 years... love it, am I paranoid every time I go out... hell yes, does it ring ... yep ...

I wear earplugs & make sure they are in correctly. It's not put me off as I enjoy it so much but then tinnitus is god awful anyway so I'm not sure how much worse it can get...

When the bikes are flying along or in mid air, I'm in heaven.

Maybe your skydiving would be an irreplaceable memory... by all accounts it's quite peaceful up there, the jump and free fall is a few seconds.

 

[Karl28]

My friend went skydiving and said it was really loud

 

[Static Sophie 73]

Apart from the loudness of the wind speed as you fall (!!) your vision is another concern as due to the severe inertia of the fall it greatly heightens the risk of a retinal detachment. I just wouldn't go there

 

[Bill Bauer]

Am I being over paranoid or sensible?

I would do what you had done.

 

[Bill Bauer]

the jump and free fall is a few seconds

And one might end up paying with their remaining life for those few seconds of fun.

 

[Michael B]

I've never been skydiving, but I have zoomed-in on Google Earth really fast!

 

[Zeneth]

If you really want to do it, look into some otoprotective drugs or something like that, may or may not help.

 

[marc 1974 london]

And one might end up paying with their remaining life for those few seconds of fun.

I don't disagree with that, I am the sort that throws caution at times & live my way, which isn't everyone's cup of tea, I accept that.

Personally I'd do the jump.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I am the sort that throws caution at times

A pessimist is an experienced optimist. It sounds like you are the sort who hasn't had to pay dearly (yet) for throwing caution to the wind. I can assure you that once that happens to you, you will no longer find throwing caution to the wind to be appealing.

 

[marc 1974 london]

A pessimist is an experienced optimist. It sounds like you are the sort who hasn't had to pay dearly (yet) for throwing caution to the wind. I can assure you that once that happens to you, you will no longer find throwing caution to the wind to be appealing.

Can assure you I have

 

[Roy114]

I'm going skydiving for my next birthday. I've always wanted to do it as well and I'm not gonna let tinnitus stop me. I'll use earplugs for the noise, which will without a doubt make sure I don't get more hearing damage. Any other things that could go wrong aren't even worth my time to worry about. I'm not gonna let fear stop me from enjoying my life.

Also I've gone to ~20 festivals since I got my noise-induced tinnitus. It's as loud as ever but definitely hasn't gotten worse. In fact, I've done an audiogram a few weeks back and my hearing actually slightly improved. I've even gone to a festival on an abandoned military airbase in germany where the decibels reached ~120. I'm pretty sure the freefall won't be as loud as that. My custom molded earplugs have always protected me from ANY damage.

Just get some good earplugs, stop worrying and experience what might be the best moment of your life.

 

[Julien87]

Well, I have no idea if I would do that, but I have a few comments:

I am wondering: isn't the pressure change more brutal during a plane take off than when you freefall?
Wearing earplugs during a plane take off has never been a problem for me. I have no idea if this can be compared with a freefall though.

Also, regarding the wind noise, maybe it would be wise to wear a kind of headband that covers the ears (on top of plugs). Do you know if you would wear a helmet?

 

[Jason C]

Just noticed this thread.

I did a skydive with skydive Dubai over new year. Was amazing.

I had earplugs in for the plane ride up as everyone did then removed them for the jump.

The fall isn't crazy loud, you fall at around 120mph for about 60 seconds from 13000ft then the shoot is deployed. Then it all goes silent and you just float down. Unreal experience and thankfully no issues with tinnitus after