Tinnitus and Socialising

[Tweaker]

I decided to go for leaving drinks with work colleauges, as it was a colleague's last day. I only managed to stay about 30 minutes. The music didn't seem too loud but there were a lot of people. I could not hear what people were saying if they were more than 1 metre away from me.

I knew then that it was too loud and I would regret it if I stayed longer. It's annoying as I am a social person but there are few places where you can safely socialise in a large group.

Tinnitus can be really frustrating. I rarely attempt to go out with colleagues. Every time I try I find it is too noisy, feel anxious and end up leaving.

I don't use earplugs, as I hate wearing them. It makes the tinnitus totally unbearable.

 

[Niko]

I did it last weekend, stayed for hours in a pub, background noise 70-75dB.

On my way home, my T. was going like crazy. Got better the next day, but one day it might not.

Never had this problem, until a recent perm spike in my T. now it seems something is terribly wrong.

Will I go out, yea, what can you do. I'll take the risk, and I know what I'm risking.

 

[Taylorslay]

I'm 17 so I can't exactly drink here in the U.S haha. But I wont allow T to stop me from going out. But it will determine where I'll stay and where I'll eat. I'd wear earplugs if it seems too loud.

I went into Chipotle one time. The music was so loud you couldn't hear someone next to you and the resturant was probably as loud as a disco skating rink or some party. I just walked right out. I was like "Nuh Uh I ain't having this.".

 

[Tamara]

I don't understand why the music in this amplitude. It will be a generation of people with hearing problems. It's already warning, but who has nothing, can't imagine what can happen.

 

[Rainbowsheep]

I have to admit that I'm a bit more anxious when I go to concerts, bars etc, but I certainly do go because I don't want tinnitus to take that away from me. However I always wear earplugs and I avoid standing too close to the speakers

 

[Ambassador]

Last week I spent 5 days in Disney World Florida, it's loud and I had a pretty good week and that included the 2.5 hour plane ride down and back. For me, I truly believe there doesn't seem to be much in the way of sound that can cause me any problems. I believe my spikes are stress related and have to wonder if the anticipation of visiting a loud place causes stress that is the true cause of a spike and not the noise itself. Just my opinion.

 

[JohnnyMx]

I knew then that it was too loud and I would regret it if I stayed longer.

I socialize alot with work partners, clients, friends. We go to bars, restaurants, etc. Some of them loud.

I always use earplugs if there is moderate to loud music in the place. I don´t use earplugs if is just a place without music venues, and only people talking and eating.

People should not stop doing things because of Tinnitus. Just take proper protection and keep going.

 

[Bill Bauer]

People should not stop doing things because of Tinnitus. Just take proper protection and keep going.

Are you sure? I guess you are so sure, you are willing to bet your life on it...

I would continue to go to concerts, festivals, night clubs etc. I usually had earplugs with me, though. I thought earplugs would ensure my safety. This continued, until the second acoustic trauma: an electronic music concert which was insanely loud, I noticed it, stayed anyway (because hey, I had earplugs!) and paid the price with heavily worsened T.

 

[yonkapin]

Get custom musician's ear plugs. They feel great and sound even better. The standard foam/silicon solid plugs are horrible to use.

I go out heaps out, I just carry my custom ACS 26db plugs with me in my pocket in case I need them.

 

[Christophe_85]

I decided to go for leaving drinks with work colleauges, as it was a colleague's last day. I only managed to stay about 30 minutes. The music didn't seem too loud but there were a lot of people. I could not hear what people were saying if they were more than 1 metre away from me.

I knew then that it was too loud and I would regret it if I stayed longer. It's annoying as I am a social person but there are few places where you can safely socialise in a large group.

Tinnitus can be really frustrating. I rarely attempt to go out with colleagues. Every time I try I find it is too noisy, feel anxious and end up leaving.

I don't use earplugs, as I hate wearing them. It makes the tinnitus totally unbearable.

I understand you !

I would like to socialize more, but sometimes (often) I am too scared it may increase my T and H that I prefer not to go out... And I find lots of places quite loud...

Unlike you, I put almost every time my earplugs on when I go out... Because otherwise I just couldn't stand the noise !

With the music, people and other I have to...

I think it can help you going out more without being anxious about increasing your T... No ?

 

[Christophe_85]

I have to admit that I'm a bit more anxious when I go to concerts, bars etc, but I certainly do go because I don't want tinnitus to take that away from me. However I always wear earplugs and I avoid standing too close to the speakers

You are courageous to go for concerts !

 

[Rainbowsheep]

You are courageous to go for concerts !

Haha, not sure if courageous or stupid, though. I just really love concerts and I can't imagine a life without right now. So far I haven't had any problems related to concerts, though!

 

[Christophe_85]

Haha, not sure if courageous or stupid, though. I just really love concerts and I can't imagine a life without right now. So far I haven't had any problems related to concerts, though!

I understand !

To me concerts are really not mandatory in my life !

But I find it more frustrating not going to the Movies or not watching TV at a normal sound...

Great to read someone like you not putting their life aside...

 

[Tweaker]

I understand you !

I would like to socialize more, but sometimes (often) I am too scared it may increase my T and H that I prefer not to go out... And I find lots of places quite loud...

Unlike you, I put almost every time my earplugs on when I go out... Because otherwise I just couldn't stand the noise !

With the music, people and other I have to...

I think it can help you going out more without being anxious about increasing your T... No ?

Because earplugs block out the external sound, the internal noise of my tinnitus ramps up to unbearable levels. I only use them for mowing the lawn or other DIY jobs and I can only bear wearing them for about 10 minutes at a time. The short time in the loud bar yesterday I think has worsened my tinnitus today. My T is so loud anyway that it is hard to detect spikes sometimes. I still fear it getting even worse, though. Wearing earplugs makes me think how bad the T would be if I were deaf. Unthinkable.

 

[JohnnyMx]

Are you sure? I guess you are so sure, you are willing to bet your life on it...

I think that, if you decide to stop living your life at its fullest.... then you don't need to bet anything... you already lost.

I really understand your point, I were there for alot of time.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think that, if you decide to stop living your life at its fullest.... then you don't need to bet anything... you already lost.

If as a result of living life to the fullest for a couple of months or years results in permanent debilitating tinnitus ("staring at a wall while listening to screaming tinnitus and yearning for suicide" for the rest of one's life), then one would Really learn the meaning of not living life to the fullest.

To me, living life to the fullest involves not making my tinnitus louder.

 

[JohnnyMx]

If as a result of living life to the fullest for a couple of months or years results in permanent debilitating tinnitus ("staring at a wall while listening to screaming tinnitus and yearning for suicide" for the rest of one's life), then one would Really learn the meaning of not living life to the fullest.

The thing is, I don't propose people to join Metallica for 2018 world tour as a drummer.

I'm only saying, there is nothing wrong with going sometimes to a bar, to have dinner, to a stadium... just watch out the noise level and protect your ears properly if needed.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I'm only saying, there is nothing wrong with going sometimes to a bar, to have dinner, to a stadium... just watch out the noise level and protect your ears properly if needed.

My guess is that about half of the people who do the above will end up being fine. The other half will not be fine. This forum is full of horror stories of people finding out the hard way that ear plugs will not always be enough to protect you.
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/

 

[JohnnyMx]

My guess is that about half of the people who do the above will end up being fine

It would be a great idea to get to a consensus, here with all the fellows in TT.

To determine how much noise is too much, and define a guideline to tell people the level of risk for certain situations.

I understand that, as those post you shared with me say, maybe an underground DJ gig is too much... we could also agree that going to have dinner with family, or going for a couple of drinks with friends to a bar should not be a high risk activity using proper protection.

 

[Philippe79]

I am all for doing the things one would like to do, in regards to going to loud places, as long as I wear earplugs. Saying that, I would certainly draw the line at clubs and most concerts. To me, that is the price I am willing to pay for my mistakes from the past and to be honest, I am happy to miss those things anyway. This is as far as I am willing to go, in terms of 'balancing out living life and sacrificing it' and that is enough for me. I understand there has to be a balance here.. my view is, there needs to be some compromises (due to mistakes from the past) but I would never let it turn me into a complete recluse - what's the point in that. This 'balance' will always vary person to person and is a topic of debate that could in fact go on forever.........

 

[Bill Bauer]

It would be a great idea to get to a consensus, here with all the fellows in TT.

I think it all depends on a person. Some people are lucky and can handle anything. Others are less fortunate and get severe spikes after being around noises that are not that loud (recently one person described getting a spike after being near a washing machine). The most unlucky people can handle moderate or even loud noises in the short run, but eventually have it catch up to them. The worst part is that it is difficult (impossible?) to learn your type...

I assume the worst and act accordingly. Others choose to take a risk (and the risk pays off for many people). I think it is important to make people aware that when they are around noise, they are taking a risk.

 

[Christophe_85]

Because earplugs block out the external sound, the internal noise of my tinnitus ramps up to unbearable levels. I only use them for mowing the lawn or other DIY jobs and I can only bear wearing them for about 10 minutes at a time. The short time in the loud bar yesterday I think has worsened my tinnitus today. My T is so loud anyway that it is hard to detect spikes sometimes. I still fear it getting even worse, though. Wearing earplugs makes me think how bad the T would be if I were deaf. Unthinkable.

I understand...

To me I couldn't cope with some T increasing again and again with the years...

There would be one step that would be too much to cope with...

We live in a constant fear of T increasing... What a shitty life...