Why Is My Tinnitus Getting Worse? Why Is Driving a Car Making It Worse?

[Rohit Saluja]

I got tinnitus from headphones, I used them daily at my work place at low volume, after getting tinnitus I stopped using them at all.

Earlier the tinnitus was very mild, but now it has increased so much instead of getting down, I didn't expose myself to any loud music, just daily environment of day to day.

When I use my car I notice that my tinnitus increases, may be that is the cause, but using car is safe right? It's at 65db? Then why my tinnitus is getting worse??????

 

[fishbone]

I got tinnitus from headphones, I used them daily at my work place at low volume, after getting tinnitus I stopped using them at all.

Earlier the tinnitus was very mild, but now it has increased so much instead of getting down, I didn't expose myself to any loud music, just daily environment of day to day.

When I use my car I notice that my tinnitus increases, may be that is the cause, but using car is safe right? It's at 65db? Then why my tinnitus is getting worse??????

Your issue is beyond just the car noise. 65db is normal range, I drive in much louder environments and it does nothing to my tinnitus. Your fear/anxiety is making the matter worst. try to calm down and let go of the stress/anxiety, it can make it a lot easier for you.

 

[Michael B]

I've been dealing with tinnitus in my left ear for over 6 years and I still can't figure it out and chances are never will. The only thing predictable about it is it's unpredictability.

 

[Anima]

I got tinnitus from headphones, I used them daily at my work place at low volume, after getting tinnitus I stopped using them at all.

Earlier the tinnitus was very mild, but now it has increased so much instead of getting down, I didn't expose myself to any loud music, just daily environment of day to day.

When I use my car I notice that my tinnitus increases, may be that is the cause, but using car is safe right? It's at 65db? Then why my tinnitus is getting worse??????

My tinnitus is very reactive and it spikes even with my own voice if I have a short conversation on the phone. I always use ear plugs when I drive my car out of the city, otherwise a bad spike is guaranteed. Last week, I went to the airport to pick up a friend and I measured the dB's while driving on the highway, the noise level fluctuated from 70 to 100 db, depending on the section of the road, because asphalt quality varies and so does noise, consequently. I never cross the door without a pair of foam ear plugs in my pocked , just in case I need them, which happens more often than desirable.
My advice is, use ear plugs as often as you need them, always at your own discretion, or just place your fingers in your ear canal when buses or noisy vehicles occasionally pass by your side. Good luck.

 

[Bill Bauer]

When I use my car I notice that my tinnitus increases, may be that is the cause, but using car is safe right? It's at 65db?

Our ears have been compromised. As you have been finding out the hard way, what is safe for people with healthy ears is not safe for many of us. Consider staying away from moderate noises like that of a vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, etc. I wear Peltor muffs when I drive.

 

[Rohit Saluja]

Thanks bill i am ordering peltor muffs from amazon, i really find hard to drive my car now a days, life has become too hard for me,my anxiety issue is gone, but the noise always makes me feel down and depressed, i am hoping that my T might not be permanent, but if it gets i am ready to face it, life has not ended, it is all because of my ignorance, i am from india here tinnitus is very uncommon, because there is no culture of concerts here, if i would have known the consequences of using headphones i would have stopped it coming at the first place.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I think there is a good chance that your T is not permanent.

Check out the thread below where I summarize everything (24 tips spread over three posts) I learned about managing tinnitus after reading the posts on this forum for the past 11 months
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...itus-recently-this-info-will-be-useful.25741/

 

[Tom88]

I also have a feeling that after driving for an hour, it is worse. Even though it is around 65-70 dB (winter tires, more noise). Could also be that during driving you don't notice the ringing or it just has been a long day at work after driving home.

 

[Bharath]

Have you visited a ENT? I too suffered from Tinnitus and Vertigo several years ago and both of them stayed for well over a year before I became free of it. Did you catch up with severe cold/throat infection recently?

 

[Tex]

My business involves quite a bit of driving. After ten years of this I have discovered that when it comes to driving, my T is affected more or less by whether in my wife's car, or my 4x4 SUV with big tires, my truck, or even the type of pavement, the length of trip, the speed and or stress of the drive, length of the drive, etc.

For instance if I am in the car on pavement with the larger rock vs. smooth concrete it is louder. I think the sound may be transmitted even slightly by the tiny vibration of the pavement at 70 to 80 MPH through the tires. If I'm running pretty fast in traffic there is stress with that as well. If the trip is longer then at the end of the trip my T is screaming.

If I am in the SUV it is smoother. The tires are larger and softer. It isn't as bad. And the same with my truck.

And no matter which one I'm driving I about always have a window cracked to get some wind noise, unless its raining. I gave up on music in the car ten years ago.

 

[Bobby B]

I think the op is in Pakistan where "road noise " has a few additional components besides the actual tire noise - people honking every 3 seconds to make sure they are being noticed, and lost of older louder vehicles on rough roads

Yes Peltor x5a would be useful

 

[Gman]

I got tinnitus from headphones, I used them daily at my work place at low volume, after getting tinnitus I stopped using them at all.

Earlier the tinnitus was very mild, but now it has increased so much instead of getting down, I didn't expose myself to any loud music, just daily environment of day to day.

When I use my car I notice that my tinnitus increases, may be that is the cause, but using car is safe right? It's at 65db? Then why my tinnitus is getting worse??????

How well sound insulated is your car? From what I've seen on TV, Indian cities seem pretty loud. I also live somewhere loud in SE Asia and I wear hearing protection when I know there's a chance of it being noisy and whilst driving. Why some people choose to put mufflers on their little motorcycles that make them excessively noisy like harley davidsons, I just dont understand.

Mine's still worsened over the past 2 years though - was very mild to start with also.
And sub 70db sounds have aggravated my acoustic trauma. The belief that sounds under 85db are safe is not true, in my opinion.

 

[Rohit Saluja]

@Gman Now a days i dont use car much, i use normal usable ear plugs in car and outside, mine is getting lower in volmue, and anxiety is also not so much, its been 2.5 months, I gets relief from yoga, doing 3 hours a day, i feels in my case its not permanent.