Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Traffic

[Miranda]

Thx to all above as well... still checking for your helpful thoughts.

[Tuckervill]

It's all good. Was it here that the video of the deer jumping over the guy on the motorcycle was posted?

Oh here it is.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A6VS6qsLJeY

Now, every time I see a deer while in the car I envision this scenario instead of the one where they run smack into me!

Karen

Oh, okay, sorry. I'm used to animals being a big safety issue, all the time. And hearing protection. Comes from the motorcycling side more than bicycling, especially the latter, but deer is probably the #1 thing that scares me on fast descents on the velo.

[Tuckervill]

It's been many years, but I have been to Jamacia before. Yes, I can totally picture the pig! No biking for me in those days. But I did climb Dunn's River Falls. Been over 10yrs ago, don't know if you can still do it. OK, the only thing I could think when I was doing it was... you could never do this in the US with the liability/sue factor... this is crazy. But it sure was fun, in a sick sorta way. Thx for the thoughts about hearing stuff on rides.

They still climb Dunn's River Falls. It's a big attraction and from what I heard they shuttle you through like cattle, and try to rip you off in the shops afterwards. I didn't do it because it sounded like it would be crowded, and other passengers said it was. The mountain biking was actually on a road, if you could call it that. Little shacks on either side, people and starving dogs and taverns up and down the road. We even stopped at the elementary school and met some of the children--the guide was very proud of the school. It was fun, especially the pig! But Jamaica itself is bittersweet.

Karen

[shootingstar]

I hope you'll find a range of different things to motivate your cycling Miranda.

I actually avoid using earplugs and headsets. I get abit of an headache after awhile. I'm the sort of person that literally sits through a 3-hr. plane flight, with the tv on ahead and intermittedly reading a magazine and watching the movie.

But am pretty wierd, until I moved in with my partner over 7 years ago, I didn't live in a household with a tv for about ...20 yrs. I will sometimes play music cds at home on my computer. And have a tiny cd music collection ..that I seem to only remember when I need classical music (baroque) to do oil painting..

and I don't like using a cellphone and hence, don't have one yet. My hearing has been tested twice in past 4 years...and it's normal.

I actually welcome many different outdoor noises while cycling..except for constant trucks. Really it's more polluted air that is bothersome rather than car noise.

It is visual variety in the environment that stimulates me in cycling, to keep on going, to see more... not music. ..probably another reason why this sport has hooked me..since that visual stimulation spills over into other areas of my life. To me, cycling is seeing, learning more about the world around me..

[Miranda]

Thx girls for the additional thoughts. Yes, it is true about the ride motivation. I love the music beat, but the views of the Mother Nature are very motivating as well. My last outdoor loop had one beautiful country home with a sprawling front yard, full of all types of flowers. It was right at the center of the route. It always made me want to make the whole loop just to see the flowers. Regardless if I was getting a bit tired, I'd ride just a bit harder "to make it to the flowers".

[HillSlugger]

I have tinnitus and hearing loss in my left ear as a result of Meniere's syndrome. As was said earlier, I don't know what silence is. I don't tend to notice it during riding because it is covered by the wind noise in my ears. I never wear earplugs or headphone while biking or running because I want to hear what's going on around me. I wear plugs while swimming to keep out the water. I have trouble hearing conversations when there's a lot of background noise, like at a restaurant or party. I've very recently gotten a hearing aid that is helping quite a bit.

[blueskies]

Oh, Miranda, I just read an article about research at OHSU (Oregon Health Sciences Univ) on a new treatment for tinnitus. Let me see if I can remember where & find a link...

Yes, here it is:

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/orego...060.xml&coll=7

And here's a link to some facts from the OHSU Tinnitus Clinic:

http://www.ohsu.edu/ohrc/tinnitusclinic/

Good luck!

[HillSlugger]

Interesting article. I wish I was able to participate in the study. Can't wait for the results!

[Red Rock]

Miranda and others:

This has been very intresting to read. I have noticed that since I have been working in the hospital lab, I have the same constant ringing in my ears and it will not go away either. I have a doctors appt soon and I plan to ask what he suggests I can do.

I have been at a variety of jobs and have been able to wear hearing protection, but this one I have to be able to answer the phone as well, so I have been struggling with what protection I can use and still be able to work.

I recently have had this virus so I have been off for 2 weeks and the ringing has disappeared.

I have not had problems riding my bike. I do not use ipods or block my hearing, as I like to hear what is going on around me.

Does any one have anyother suggestions for hearing protection in a lab setting?

Thankyou,
Red Rock

PS What are the NRR ear filters?

[Miranda]

Thx ladies for some more feedback. The above posted links are great. The study will be very interesting about the drug option. I did finally have my ENT appointment, and my hearing was tested. I have some high frequency hearing loss. Nothing major that the doc would suggest a hearing aid to correct. I am going to pay to get the musician hearing protection made, and use it at the gym. Sick now with some URI/sinus stuff, so the audio tech said it was best to wait until that cleared up before making the mold, as any ear pressure changes could affect the shape.

[Miranda]

Miranda and others:

This has been very intresting to read. I have noticed that since I have been working in the hospital lab, I have the same constant ringing in my ears and it will not go away either. I have a doctors appt soon and I plan to ask what he suggests I can do.

I have been at a variety of jobs and have been able to wear hearing protection, but this one I have to be able to answer the phone as well, so I have been struggling with what protection I can use and still be able to work.

I recently have had this virus so I have been off for 2 weeks and the ringing has disappeared.

I have not had problems riding my bike. I do not use ipods or block my hearing, as I like to hear what is going on around me.

Does any one have anyother suggestions for hearing protection in a lab setting?

Thankyou,
Red Rock

PS What are the NRR ear filters?

I would hope this would be something your employer could help with??? I know that being exposed to certain loud noises does make my ringing worse. Probably being off work with your virus gave you some relief. I know what you are saying about the phone. There was a partially deaf lady in one office I used to work at, and they had some special mic system she used to help. Meaning, like I wonder if you could wear some type of ear plugs, and the phone mic could be adapted somehow to amplifies the dcbs when you pick it up, and still leave the ear plugs in??? I dunno... just brainstorming. Maybe someone in the HR department might have an idea of what could be done? Or know of a contact/work environment specialist that could come in and assess the situation? Hearing protection is just like any other safety issue and falls under OSHA. Maybe something could be modified? It really is not a happy thing. Sorry...

[Miranda]

Miranda and others:

This has been very intresting to read. I have noticed that since I have been working in the hospital lab, I have the same constant ringing in my ears and it will not go away either. I have a doctors appt soon and I plan to ask what he suggests I can do.

I have been at a variety of jobs and have been able to wear hearing protection, but this one I have to be able to answer the phone as well, so I have been struggling with what protection I can use and still be able to work.

I recently have had this virus so I have been off for 2 weeks and the ringing has disappeared.

I have not had problems riding my bike. I do not use ipods or block my hearing, as I like to hear what is going on around me.

Does any one have anyother suggestions for hearing protection in a lab setting?

Thankyou,
Red Rock

PS What are the NRR ear filters?

To answer your "PS question", these are the ones I'm thinking about getting...
http://www.westone.com/index.php?loa...ex&page_id=190
I originally sought them out for musicians purposes... they let the tone come thru, but all at a lower volume. But, if you read the description, they are noted to be good for occupational reasons as well. Maybe they could work somehow for your lab and phone situation combo? The dcbs are the sound volume, and the interchangeable filters can be varied to reduce the noise a certain level. Click around on Westone's site, and it explains the options more.

This is a link that shows what the filter insert looks like... if you click on "options" it brings a drop down menu that shows reduction ddb, like 9, 15, etc... the molds are made custom fit to your ear, and the amount of protection you need, or reduction of volume, is based upon what insert is best, i.e. like 9 is less, 15 more, etc.
http://www.westone.com/index.php?loa...group_id=ES49M

[Red Rock]

Miranda:

Thankyou for your help and suggestions. I had brief spot of inspiration before going back to work and I found the 25 decibel plugs that go into the ear. My husband and I tested them out before I came back to work, so I knew I could answer the phone and "work normally".

I have been wearing them while I'm at work with no problems, so that is nice. I am the only one with ear plugs. I spoke with the lab manager and he said that they test the noise amounts and he said "it is ok". Perhaps I am just senstive to constant loud noise or something.

I will also double check with the doc too. One of the other lab techs was like.."oh you must have high blood pressure or something"... I proceeded to look this up on the net and figured I was not any of the cases listed under the causes. I generally do not have high blood pressure.

I will check out those sites.

Thankyou,
Ellen

[OakLeaf]

DH just sent me this link. I haven't tried the software yet, and I have no opinion of the claimed bases for it. But it's interesting and it has a 14 day free trial:

http://www.vavsoft.com/Tinnitus_Tamer.html

[Tokie]

Hey Miranda! I have had tinnitus for about 30 years (since a young relative set off a strip of firecrackers next to me) It never goes away, and I am lucky in that it always sounds about the same in pitch,rythym and volume. One thing to consider is that for some people, (me included) the tinnitus is almost intolerable when life brings lots of stress. And when stress is well managed or low, the tinnitus is quite tolerable. It's almost like a stress indicator for me, so although there is nothing I can do about the tinnitus, it is a reminder to care for myself in other ways to make life better. And like other writers here, I am so much more careful about caring for my hearing! Avoiding loud music, music directly in my ears, loud car radio, taking care to plug my ears in loud movie scenes, hair dryer noise, etc.As far as earplugs go, perhaps just one on the traffic side, but I really want to use all of my senses on the bike, and hear what I can't yet see. Good luck! Tokie