Why Is It So Uncommon to See People with Tinnitus Protecting Their Ears

[Yuuls]

Ed, I do the same, carry earplugs on my key ring, so they are always with me .

I don't really ask people if they have tinnitus but I was shocked to find out only a few days ago that one of my nieces has tinnitus since she was 16 now she is 27. She did have it through high school college, now she's a nurse practitioner. Got her Masters.

But I told her about earplugs and dangers of loud noise, to never go to a party or a loud place without them. To never think your tinnitus can't get worse.

This is so encouraging to read! May I ask what kind of tinnitus she had though? Some people mention just a mild ringing at bed time. Others even say they have tinnitus when in fact they just have the fleeting kind that most people get. Did she describe hers?

 

[Yuuls]

I didn't know I was supposed to protect my damaged ears from noise until reading the horror stories on Tinnitus Talk about tinnitus getting permanently worse after repeated noise exposure. So I think it's due to lack of education and pure ignorance.

Neither of the ENTs I saw mentioned anything about protecting my hearing nor what is actually damaging. Yes, concerts and clubs are somewhat obvious. I measured the dB levels of my car on the freeway with music on and with the music being on for what I didn't see as loud, it could get up to 80 dB! I've gone on a lot of roadtrips, and had 7-8 hour drives when I was in college that I'm sure did some damage.

 

[MRItechssuck]

ENTs are not your mom... they won't tell you everything. ENTs won't tell you to wear condoms either... some of this is common sense. Earplugs on your key ring? Not good enough for me. Foamies in my back pocket can get in the ears in about 2 seconds...

I have them in my pocket always... except for two times in my life, the two times I got tinnitus.

Be proactive... especially with hyperacusis. I stop to get gas... my earplugs are going in... why? The idiot getting gas next to you may hit their car alarm by accident. I'm going I to the store... earplugs going in... carts, kids... yellers.

Not fancy musicians or molded earplugs... I was safe for 20 years by easy, cheap, accessible foamies.

The same doctor in the doctor's corner was around 20 years ago... it's sad he is still one of the few out there helping. He said 20 years ago... basically, if the place is loud enough to raise your voice to the person next to you... you are probably damaging your hearing.

 

[Rajin]

This is so encouraging to read! May I ask what kind of tinnitus she had though? Some people mention just a mild ringing at bed time. Others even say they have tinnitus when in fact they just have the fleeting kind that most people get. Did she describe hers?

She told me it bothered her when she studied really bad, but when she is busy or doing things, the tinnitus not there, it only appears when she's stressed out. I didn't want to ask her too much because she was doing so well with it. I just tried to tell her about protecting her ears from noise.

I asked her how she think she got it, she was not sure, but she used to listen to headphones very loud.

 

[JohnFox]

There are laws now that govern how much noise one can be exposed to while at work. We were required to wear ear protection where I worked. Why is it that there are no noise laws protecting the unsuspecting public who go to these excessively loud concerts?? You go to a concert, pay a lot of money to sit near the front, and have no idea at all how loud it is going to be. Next thing you know, your ears are blasted out and you wake up the next day with permanent hearing loss accompanied by invasive Tinnitus for the rest of your life, and your doctor says...."Eh,..you'll get used to it." Its time for laws that protect the unknowing public.

 

[Shaz1]

There are laws now that govern how much noise one can be exposed to while at work. We were required to wear ear protection where I worked. Why is it that there are no noise laws protecting the unsuspecting public who go to these excessively loud concerts?? You go to a concert, pay a lot of money to sit near the front, and have no idea at all how loud it is going to be. Next thing you know, your ears are blasted out and you wake up the next day with permanent hearing loss accompanied by invasive Tinnitus for the rest of your life, and your doctor says...."Eh,..you'll get used to it." Its time for laws that protect the unknowing public.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6438925/

interesting article too

. The majority of regular patrons were dissatisfied with current sound levels, with around three-quarters of participants reporting preferences below the levels typically experienced at music venues.

most patrons want the volume to be lower too.
i've definitely been to many shows where the volume made it unenjoyable (prior to my hearing issues).

 

[Ed209]

i've definitely been to many shows where the volume made it unenjoyable (prior to my hearing issues).

Same.