@Foncky @Jomo @Zorro! @Bobby B @lymebite
Foncky.
I have decided to reply to your post because you have said please; at least you are showing that you have some manners unlike your previous comments about me to another member.
Some people on this thread have not understood the advice that I was giving to Jomo and for this reason I smiled to myself, for when people don't understand what's the point in arguing? Ignorance is bliss as they say.
Someone that has been exposed to loud noise and gets tinnitus and hyperacusis, must be careful of using earplugs especially foam types to block-out normal everyday sounds. Please understand what I've said:
normal everyday sounds.
Jomo has mentioned the noise levels on the train is 90 decibels or over and he right to be concerned that this can cause damage to his hearing. However, it is much better for him (in my opinion) to wear noise-reducing earplugs instead of foam earplugs. By wearing noise-reducing earplugs by 18 decibels or higher for instance, external sounds are reduced but the auditory system is still been supplied with enriched sounds from the outside environment and thus, this helps his auditory system to become desensitised.
If Jomo continues to wear foam type earplugs on the train and on the street, he is subjecting his auditory system to a dull muffled sound, unlike noise-reducing earplugs, which reduce sound but wont impair sound quality. He will still hear all the subtle nuances around him of everyday life on the train, and walking along the streets of NYC but the sound quality will not be impaired. This will help his brain and auditory system to close down their heightened auditory receptors or gates, which have been opened up when he suffered the noise trauma.
The only way to treat hyperacusis, sensitivity to sound and close down these auditory receptors or gates, is to introduce sound enrichment/sound therapy. The sound enrichment should be a good quality to gain maximum benefit. One of the best ways to do that is using normal every day sounds and a sound machine at night by the bedside.
One can also be on a treatment programme such as TRT, where white noise generators are worn and the person also has counselling with a Hearing Therapist. The counselling is a very important part of the treatment and mustn't be overlooked. I was on a TRT programme for 2 years because I had very severe tinnitus and hyperaucusis. So bad I had to ask people to lower their voice when talking to me as my ears hurt so much. My hyperacusis is completely cured now.
Someone mentioned, what about people that wear foam earplugs all day and to bed at night they don't get hyperacusis. That comment really tickled me and I apologise for being flippant. You will find the people that wear foam earplugs at work or in bed at night haven't suffered noise trauma to their brain and auditory system the way Jomo has and the rest of us. Hence, these people don't have hyperacusis.
Jomo might believe that he doesn't have any hyperacusis or thinks he's probably just experiencing some sensitivity to sound or, as some people say: reactive tinnitus. In my opinion, Jomo has hyperacusis. Please remember there is different degrees of it just as tinnitus comes in different intensities. Reactive tinnitus is Hyperacusis in my opinion. It's having an over sensitivity to sound and the way to treat it is using sound enrichment – sound therapy.
Whilst it's perfectly okay for Jomo to use noise-reducing earplugs for a while to allow his auditory system to heal, he must also be careful not to make a habit of wearing them to regularly as one can get too used to this and can make the auditory system remain hypersensitive. Of course he should always have noise reducing earplugs with him when going to clubs and use them but I don't advise using foam plugs. Foam plugs are fine when using noisy power tool and gardening equipment like petrol lawn mower etc.
Tinnitus and hyperacusis are both complex and the healing process takes time. Please click on my profile picture, as there are many started threads on tinnitus and hyperaucusis that might be helpful.
Michael
PS: I have had tinnitus a long time. Whilst I see myself as having some experience with it and counselling people with the condition, it is mostly to do when it was caused by loud noise exposure, as mine was. Many things can cause tinnitus, therefore, I do not regard myself as an expert on tinnitus and I'm always willing to learn from others.
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