Thinking About Going to the Cinema

[David G]

I've had tinnitus for almost 8 months now, it's beginning to hardly bother me, but I'm having doubts whether I should go the cinema. I haven't been since February, I have read other threads about the movies but it's all mixed opinions.

I want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

 

[Michael Leigh]

want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

I am pleased to hear that your tinnitus has reduced and you are in the habituation process and everything is looking good. Many people have been in your situation and believe the coast is clear and they can carry on regardless. Please don't believe this. Your tinnitus is there simmering in the background and waiting. Waiting for the first mistake that you make then all of a sudden it will be back with a vengeance and a ferocity that you wouldn't believe! Trust my I know what I'm talking about.

I advise you not to use headphones even at low volume. I understand that you want to go and have a nice time and that's the right thing to do. However, cinemas can be loud and I've read posts in this forum from people regretting they have gone to the cinema once their tinnitus had reduced even when wearing earplugs. Not using earplugs as you intend doing isn't a good idea. Please don't believe earplugs will protect you one hundred percent because they wont. If external sound is loud enough, it can reach your inner ear by Bone conduction. This is where sound passes through your skull and is transferred to your inner ear.

The choice is yours but I advise you to be extremely careful going to places where there is loud sound even with earplugs. You are still in the early days of tinnitus and by no means are you fully recovered in my opinion.

All the best
Michael

 

[Mentos]

I've had tinnitus for almost 8 months now, it's beginning to hardly bother me, but I'm having doubts whether I should go the cinema. I haven't been since February, I have read other threads about the movies but it's all mixed opinions.

I want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

I go to cinema pretty regularly, I have my earplugs with me in case it gets loud, so depending how loud it is in the cinema I either wear them or not. Never experienced spike after that. My T is noise induced after loud rock concert 2.5 years ago. The choice is yours, I wouldn't dare to go to any concert anymore, but cinema seems relatively safe, at least that's my opinion. I simply refuse to give up on life because of T.

 

[Michael Leigh]

I simply refuse to give up on life because of T.

Going to the cinema is fine Mentos and I agree that one shouldn't make tinnitus rule their life. Don't be fooled though. Your tinnitus doesn't necessarily have to spike for it to become worse. It can become louder gradually. If you go to the cinema regularly just be careful....

 

[fishbone]

I've had tinnitus for almost 8 months now, it's beginning to hardly bother me, but I'm having doubts whether I should go the cinema. I haven't been since February, I have read other threads about the movies but it's all mixed opinions.

I want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

It all depends on the place you go to see the movie. Some places are not all that loud and some places have the latest technologies and can be very loud. Take your ear plugs and see how it goes.

Enjoy your time

 

[Mentos]

Going to the cinema is fine Mentos and I agree that one shouldn't make tinnitus rule their life. Don't be fooled though. Your tinnitus doesn't necessarily have to spike for it to become worse. It can become louder gradually. If you go to the cinema regularly just be careful....

Regularly I mean about once a month. I know there is some risk, but life is risky. Just by lesving a house we risk getting hit by a car, or worsening our T. We do it anyway because we want to live not just exist

 

[JohnnyMx]

I want to see Blade Runner 2049

Go, use you earplugs, and enjoy the movie!

But... PLEASE!! Don't post spoilers! I need to watch that movie, I used to play the PC game in the 90s.

 

[Michael Leigh]

worsening our T. We do it anyway because we want to live not just exist

Indeed it is a risk and with respect, it is totally the wrong attitude to take with tinnitus. If you knew how severe tinnitus can get, and I don't mean a "spike" that lasts a few days. I mean so loud you feel like you're going out of your mind, then you would not take such a risk. The second time I habituated took 4 years from 2008 to 2012 and was an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I hope you never have to go through such a thing.

I am all for enjoying life and having a good time but I would never take a risk with tinnitus.
I wish you well.
Michael

 

[TheDanishGirl]

Indeed it is a risk and with respect, it is totally the wrong attitude to take with tinnitus. If you knew how severe tinnitus can get, and I don't mean a "spike" that lasts a few days. I mean so loud you feel like you're going out of your mind, then you would not take such a risk. The second time I habituated took 4 years from 2008 to 2012 and was an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I hope you never have to go through such a thing.

I am all for enjoying life and having a good time but I would never take a risk with tinnitus.
I wish you well.
Michael

??

I remember you writing on TT many times that when one is habituated that person can go back to living a normal life and that the T should not stop them from living their life, and going out, one just needs to take a few precaution. You now seem to have changed your opinion, why is that?

here is a quote from your article "tinnitus-a personal wiew": "I see no reason why a person can't go out and enjoy themselves at a nightclub or the movies providing they take the necessary precautions and wear noise-reducing earplugs. They won't impair sound quality but will reduce external sounds to a safe level when in a noisy environment"

 

[Elfin]

I think live a relatively normal life, by all means, but dont engage in anything risky.

Normal may be going to the cinema with earplugs. normal may be not going to concerts or nightclubs and only staying for short times in loud environments.

I don't think the previous normal can ever be the new normal, but maybe that is just me!

 

[Michael Leigh]

??

I remember you writing on TT many times that when one is habituated that person can go back to living a normal life and that the T should not stop them from living their life, and going out, one just needs to take a few precaution. You now seem to have changed your opinion, why is that?

With respect @Sandra I would have thought you would have addressed me more politely. For your information Mentos and I know each other quite well. I was referring to him using the word "risk" and not referring to him going to the cinema.

I wish you well.
Michael

 

[TheDanishGirl]

With respect @Sandra I would have thought you would have addressed me more politely. For your information Mentos and I know each other quite well. I was referring to him using the word "risk" and not referring to him going to the cinema.

I wish you well.
Michael

Now I am confused. Why was my question to you, not polite? I'm sorry, I really don't understand

 

[Tinker Bell]

Now I am confused. Why was my question to you, not polite? I'm sorry, I really don't understand

I think you were quite polite. You always are. I am unsure how what you wrote could be considered rude. You asked for a clarification, that should not be offensive.

 

[TheDanishGirl]

I think you were quite polite. You always are. I am unsure how what you wrote could be considered rude. You asked for a clarification, that should not be offensive.

Thank you Tinker Bell, you are right, I just wanted clarification. I did not mean to offend at all.

 

[glynis]

I will be going the Cinema Friday and taking my new plugs but my tinnitus is not through noise truma.
Love glynis

 

[Tinker Bell]

Thank you Tinker Bell, you are right, I just wanted clarification. I did not mean to offend at all.

That seemed clear to me.

Online correspondence is not easy since we miss facial cues, gestures, and body language. It's especially challenging on an international forum where we do not all share the same native language.

Plus, this is a support forum where education and sharing our opinions and thoughts is important. We shouldn't take offense if someone asks how we arrived at a particular opinion.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I have my earplugs with me in case it gets loud

The problem is that one loud sound can do a lot of damage, and once you hear it, it will be too late to insert ear plugs (not that ear plugs offer reliable protection).

 

[Bill Bauer]

I want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

Ear plugs are not necessary, as they are not reliable. If you read this forum, you will find countless reports of people getting spikes despite wearing ear plugs. Here is a taste of those threads:
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/earplugs-muffs-give-very-little-protection.21737/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-much-worse-after-club-despite-wearing-solid-35-db-custom-earplugs-—-im-at-my-wits-end.15744/#post-186018

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/bad-spike-not-subsiding-after-loud-bar-—-despite-wearing-properly-inserted-earplugs.20675/#post-239000

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...t-an-acoustic-trauma-shock.18964/#post-219363

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...le-in-real-life-situations.19067/#post-220314

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/33-decibel-earplug-not-protecting-from-sound.22151/

 

[dpdx]

I would not do it!

 

[Michael Leigh]

The problem is that one loud sound can do a lot of damage, and once you hear it, it will be too late to insert ear plugs (not that ear plugs offer reliable protection).

You are correct Bill. I believe and have always said that one should try and enjoy themselves once they have habituated to tinnitus. I am talking about "noise induced" tinnitus which is different from other types of tinnitus that wasn't caused by loud noise exposure. One should use good judgement at all times and not take "risks" because it takes one slip as I found out late one evening listening to some classical music on my HI-FI, that wasn't turned up loud and spent the next 4 years habituating to tinnitus.

Michael

 

[Dana]

I want to see Blade Runner 2049, so would ear plugs really be necessary?

I do not know anything about Blade Runner 2049, but sounds like an action movie. With the new sound systems in the cinemas and with the new way they do movies now, they like you, the cinema goer, to be surprised with sudden loud sounds, for more...."excitement". So i would advice you to wear the earplugs from the very beginning. Even the commercials/trailers for the new movies are so loud!

 

[Michael Leigh]

Thank you @Bill Bauer and @Dana

Though my habituation took 4 years my tinnitus did not return to what it was prior to 2008. It now has large fluctuations in intensity. From complete silence, mild, moderate or severe. I am thankful that it no longer reaches extreme severe levels that would last for many days. My Hearing Therapist and Consultant have said they haven't met anyone with my type of tinnitus with such large fluctuations in intensity.

Michael

 

[LadyDi]

Hey @David G, I have posted several times on this subject. I love movies and really am looking forward to the new Blade Runner. And I also refuse to let tinnitus run my life -- although I draw the line at taking unnecessary risks. Blasting loud concerts where I can feel the bass thumping in my breast bone? No more.

Regarding movies: I wear custom molded ear plugs with the highest level filter, as well as ear muffs over the top. I sit about mid-theater or further back, although today's sound systems distribute the noise everywhere. Also, trailers now are even louder than the films, apparently they do that deliberately to get your attention (go figure). So I get my seat, then leave my movie partners and step outside during the trailers.

And I take a few hits of NAC (a supplement) before going in, and for several days after.

This on NAC from a previous post of mine. You will find more on this supplement on TT. You can get it at most drug stores in the supplement section. This was suggested to me by a inner ear researcher who was my doctor for awhile.
If your ears feel buzzy in the morning, take some NAC. About 1200-1800 mg before exposure, then 1200 mg a day for two days after. Its a natural supplement. You can search the forum and find some info on it. Helps your neurological system.

Also, if its too loud? Just leave. Or take long breaks outside the theater throughout the movie.
But if it was me, I would go. I respect others' opinions on this, but life is for living.

 

[Philippe79]

The problem is that one loud sound can do a lot of damage, and once you hear it, it will be too late to insert ear plugs (not that ear plugs offer reliable protection).

Ear plugs are not necessary, as they are not reliable. If you read this forum, you will find countless reports of people getting spikes despite wearing ear plugs.

I wear ear protection day to day as part of my job. I nearly had to quit (in the early days of my tinnitus) but the ENT ensured me I wouldn't suffer anymore damage as long as I wore ear protection and somehow I continued. Was he lying? Are you basically saying it may not have made any difference even if I had protected my ears? In the environment I work in, it can be up to 95db occasionally, but normally 90db (maybe the same as a cinema). Only when I am using ear protection during this, my ears feel comfortable, without them it 'physically' sounds too loud. But are they still getting damaged without me knowing because I haven't got them fitted correctly?! Now I have heard someone say 'ear plugs are unreliable' it has made me really paranoid. Maybe I should quit my job after all. Also, are ear defenders (the one's that cover up the whole ear) better than earplugs? I really can't believe how uneducated I am on this subject and I have been working in a noisy environment for years (hence why I have tinnitus/I deserve it). I don't think wearing earplugs should be discouraged though imo.

 

[pytajnick]

You are correct Bill. I believe and have always said that one should try and enjoy themselves once they have habituated to tinnitus. I am talking about "noise induced" tinnitus which is different from other types of tinnitus that wasn't caused by loud noise exposure. One should use good judgement at all times and not take "risks" because it takes one slip as I found out late one evening listening to some classical music on my HI-FI, that wasn't turned up loud and spent the next 4 years habituating to tinnitus.

Michael

Would You clarify on this statement? You wrote that recurrence of your Tinnitus was due to listening to music, that wasn't turned up loud. "Not loud" meaning what? Could you tell how loud was it more or less? More than 85Db?
Thank you!

 

[Michael Leigh]

Would You clarify on this statement? You wrote that recurrence of your Tinnitus was due to listening to music, that wasn't turned up loud. "Not loud" meaning what? Could you tell how loud was it more or less? More than 85Db?
Thank you!

As I've previously mentioned I was listening to some classical music late one evening. A Haydn symphony and as most people know, classical music can sound raucous if turned up loud so I don't think it was. It was below 85db I would say around 70db or less. My ears felt fine and afterwards went to bed. The next morning my tinnitus was more pronounced and got increasingly worse over the days and weeks. I was referred to hospital and started TRT for the 2nd time. Surprisingly and till this day my hyperacusis remained silent.

Hope this helps.
Michael

 

[pytajnick]

As I've previously mentioned I was listening to some classical music late one evening. A Haydn symphony and as most people know, classical music can sound raucous if turned up loud so I don't think it was. It was below 85db I would say around 70db or less. My ears felt fine and afterwards went to bed. The next morning my tinnitus was more pronounced and got increasingly worse over the days and weeks. I was referred to hospital and started TRT for the 2nd time. Surprisingly and till this day my hyperacusis remained silent.

Hope this helps.
Michael

Understood. Thank you for the answer.
I think that this is quite alarming. Don't You think that 70db doesn't seem to be that loud objectively? I remember You advised against using protection around normal everyday sounds. Considering 70db as harmful would indicate that one should use protection most of the time being outside the home. Was Your TRT protocol the same as originally designed by Dr Jastreboff or some variation of it if I may ask? I am asking because it's often stressed in TRT literature that noise levels that are potentially harmful to noise-induced T sufferers and others are considered to be the same.

 

[Michael Leigh]

Understood. Thank you for the answer.
I think that this is quite alarming. Don't You think that 70db doesn't seem to be that loud objectively? I remember You advised against using protection around normal everyday sounds. Considering 70db as harmful would indicate that one should use protection most of the time being outside the home. Was Your TRT protocol the same as originally designed by Dr Jastreboff or some variation of it if I may ask? I am asking because it's often stressed in TRT literature that noise levels that are potentially harmful to noise-induced T sufferers and others are considered to be the same.

You have obviously been doing some homework about sound and TRT and I like that. It is an indication that you want to help yourself and don't expect to get better without trying. Therefore, I will do my best to help you with any information that might help.

I am a HI-FI enthusiast and take listening to music very seriously and have a dedicated acoustically treated listening room. The onset of my second noise trauma I put it down to that one night but I may be entirely wrong, as I experienced no return of my hyperacusis that I had in 1996 with my first onset of tinnitus!

I have a sound level meter and regularly listen to my HI-FI at 70db or more without any problems at all. If you read my post: Hyperacusis, As I see it. I will paste the link below. I last summer I went to a venue near where I live and the music was playing at 100db. I had my sound level meter with me and stayed there for 30 minutes. My ears didn't feel uncomfortable and the next day my tinnitus was completely silent. I have variable tinnitus. From complete silence, mild, moderate or severe. It no longer reaches extreme severe levels.

Out on the street traffic noise or sounds of police and ambulance sirens are no problems at all and I don't use earplugs. I had the full Pawel Jastreboff TRT treatment on both occasions. Two years duration each time. My second noise trauma took 4 years to habituate.

I still maintain the overuse of earplugs can make the auditory system hypersensitive.
Hope this is of help.
Michael
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

 

[Bill Bauer]

I wear ear protection day to day as part of my job. I nearly had to quit (in the early days of my tinnitus) but the ENT ensured me I wouldn't suffer anymore damage as long as I wore ear protection and somehow I continued. Was he lying?

He was repeating what he was taught in medical school. For some bizarre reason, doctors are not taught that the ears of a tinnitus sufferer are more vulnerable than the ears of healthy people. I am pretty sure that this is the case, based on what had happened to me personally, and on numerous cases I read about on this forum.

Having said this, it sounds like you did not get any noticeable spikes after being at work. This is a good sign. My rule of thumb is to listen to the signals from our bodies.

If you can easily find a quieter job, then it would still make sense to quit your current job, though.

Now I have heard someone say 'ear plugs are unreliable' it has made me really paranoid.

I based that statement on the fact that people have been getting spikes following noise exposure.

Also, are ear defenders (the one's that cover up the whole ear) better than earplugs?

They all have a noise reduction rating (NRR). The highest ratings are 29-32 dB. You can wear ear plugs underneath Peltor X5A muffs. By combining two methods of hearing protection, you would be increasing noise reduction by about 5 dB.

I don't think wearing earplugs should be discouraged though imo.

I was trying to convince the other person to not needlessly expose their ears to noise. Of course if one is around noise, the more ear protection one has, the better.

Personally, for the first month after my acoustic trauma I would use a blender and a vacuum cleaner, etc. After I started protecting my ears from moderate noises like that, I began seeing some improvement in my T. Of course it could be just a coincidence.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Don't You think that 70db doesn't seem to be that loud objectively?

I got a huge spike in May that had lasted for months and that might still not be completely over, after pressing a phone (its volume set to max) to my bad ear. A healthy person would have winced and then would have forgotten about it.