Tinnitus, Hearing Loss, Traffic

[Miranda]

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=21499

Hello Ladies... I did find some info on this in an old thread with tinnitus in the title. The above thread link is one I posted on this forum under spinning, in regard to music. But the more I thought aobut it, and the amount of loud traffic that passes us cycling, I thought I would post it under medical as well.

I have tinnitus. The ringing in my ears never goes away. I've been this way a while, and never realized that it was "abonormal" until I recently started to pursue playing a musical instrument. The issue of wearing hearing protection came up, and the risk of loss.

Now I realize what I "thought" were other things is a problem for me. Certain conversations are difficult (my kids voices for explample). Trouble falling asleep at times with the ringing. Makes me so very sad. From what I read, this is permanent.

I have an appt scheduled to see and ENT specialist doc. I know I can get custume fit ear plugs that musicians specifically use to filter noise to try and protect what hearing I have left. But part of me is thinking, what about all the traffic noise?

Those passing road rage drivers that hate cyclists seem to gun the engine right when they are next to our heads in the drops. We need to be able to hear the traffic, so not sure if one can wear hearing protection while riding?

Hopefully some of you ladies with condition will come out. Or at least maybe have some feedback. Please share any thoughts/experiences. Thx!

[tulip]

So many people ride with ipods and such...I just don't get it. Perhaps I'm a bit more cautious because I only have one good eye, so I rely on my hearing as a kind of peripheral vision on my left.

Some people think I'm nuts to ride a bike when I'm blind in one eye, particularly my left eye. But those are the people who would think I'm crazy to ride my bike anyways. I still ride, but I've adapted. I'm cautious and I use a mirror on that side. Maybe mirrors would help you, too.

Good that you are going to a specialist--have you been before? Keep us posted.

[OakLeaf]

Probably your best bet in traffic is some low NRR ear filters that would bring the traffic noise down to a safe level without blocking what you need to hear. Be sure to choose a color that won't be really noticeable to police, since it's illegal in most jurisdictions to block your hearing while operating a vehicle. One high NRR earplug would probably help in suburban settings, but in urban traffic, you're likely getting as much reflected noise from the sidewalk side as you are from the street side.

Do you play an amplified instrument, record your music, or belong to a band that uses amplification? If not, what would you be feeding in through custom earplugs? If you're just using them for protection rather than a conduit for an audio feed, unless your ear canals are extremely sensitive to pressure, there's really no reason to get custom fitted earplugs. Plus, since custom earplugs do their job by blocking the opening rather than sealing the ear canal, they're prone to actually carrying noise into your ear when they touch your helmet, your hair, anything the cord touches if they're corded, or your pillow if you're wearing them to sleep.

Also, if you're taking any medications (prescription, OTC or herbal), tinnitus is a frequent side effect. Sometimes it is reversible when you discontinue the medication. I recently developed tinnitus, and I'm pretty sure it's because of being switched to a generic form of a med I'd been taking without problems for years. (My third day off it today, and the tinnitus is abating some - keeping fingers crossed.)

[shootingstar]

I have tinnitus. The ringing in my ears never goes away. I've been this way a while, and never realized that it was "abonormal" until I recently started to pursue playing a musical instrument. The issue of wearing hearing protection came up, and the risk of loss.

Now I realize what I "thought" were other things is a problem for me. Certain conversations are difficult (my kids voices for explample). Trouble falling asleep at times with the ringing. Makes me so very sad. From what I read, this is permanent.

I have an appt scheduled to see and ENT specialist doc. I know I can get custume fit ear plugs that musicians specifically use to filter noise to try and protect what hearing I have left. But part of me is thinking, what about all the traffic noise?

Those passing road rage drivers that hate cyclists seem to gun the engine right when they are next to our heads in the drops. We need to be able to hear the traffic, so not sure if one can wear hearing protection while riding?

Hopefully some of you ladies with condition will come out. Or at least maybe have some feedback. Please share any thoughts/experiences. Thx!

I hope Miranda your tinnitus is not a sign that your hearing is deteoriating. Certainly you will ask this question.

Sounds abit awful if it's constant ringing and you can't sleep. My partner has it in combination with headaches since he is sensitive to barometric pressure changes due to weather changes. He has had this for so long in life...probably over last 30 years. His tinnitus might last for 1/2 hr. or over an hr. it depends...and he might have it only every few days. It depends.

Yes, he finds it hard to sleep when he gets it. Of course, on top of all this, he has been diagnosed with mild form of sleep disorder where he seldom falls into a deep sleep at night.

He actually finds cycling helpful..it distracts him from the ringing. And seems to go away faster for him.

I hope you are given some coping techniques. Let us know over time..

He is not musically inclined like his brother (piano) at all. And neither of us, coincidentally do not use earplugs for hearing music.

[mimitabby]

whatever you do, don't use MUSIC to mask the tinnitus!!! adding noise onto tinnitus makes it worse in the long run.
While riding musician's earplugs might help you; but i've got to say; safety for me is #1 so even though cars are loud (and i ride in a busy high traffic city) there's no way i want my hearing muffled even a little bit.
the occasional car gunning his engine is probably not going to hurt you.

As for tinnitus, have you tried going a day with ear plugs in your ears all day?
(not on a long bike ride)
WHen I work in a certain lab, i was getting tinnitus and was able to pinpoint the cause to a set of loud fans. Earplugs made the ringing all night go away.

[Aint Doody]

I realized about 20 years ago that I have tinnitus. I think I've had it my whole life. I have no idea what silence is.

[Miranda]

Appreciate those responses. Very helpful info. I did not realize about the string style of musician ear plugs carrying the noise when touched. Good to know, and a question to ask the doc. I have not been to see this ENT for myself. Have the relationship with both kids there as patients. Just makes me sad. Our hearing as cyclists is so important for our safety. Besides just in general for life. Any more thoughts welcomed. Takes a couple weeks to get in to the doc. Then the hearing screen appt comes later I believe. Will check in for more responses. Also report back on the doc when the time arrives. Thx

[lph]

I hesitated before posting this, because I know a lot of people disagree, and some violently, and I really don't feel like rehashing it all over again. But you did ask for personal expereinces, so here's mine

I ride with earplugs and with music on. I still hear traffic, but I don't hear it from a long distance. I compensate by using my eyes. I turn around and look a LOT. I feel that hearing is very subordinate to eyesight when it comes to taking in my surroundings. When I take the earplugs out I hear more, and louder, but it doesn't feel like it tells me anything I didn't already know. If I have to ride home wearing glasses rather than my contacts it freaks me out, though.

Caveat: I ride either on city roads where there's traffic all the time, at not very high speeds, (i.e., I have to ride in a straight line at all times anyway, and there are very few vehicles "suddenly" turning up) or on bike paths where there's no traffic at all. I might choose to not wear earplugs if I rode on roads with little but high-speed traffic.

I think that if you need to wear earplugs, you will adapt just fine, but you might have to retrain the way you ride.

[Mr. Bloom]

lph: Isn't Norway one of the happiest and friendliest countries in the world? That makes a difference too...but I'm not putting anything in my ears. I'm as concerned by animals darting into the road than I am cars.

In addition, that mask scares people...ninja cyclist - better watch out

Hijack ended...back to tinnitus

[Tuckervill]

Okay, I've been lazy about posting about this, since the pictures aren't on my computer...but...

We went to Jamaica on our cruise last month, and did a downhill mountain biking excursion. (Your imagination is NOT good enough to envision this, unless you've been to Jamaica.) I don't have a picture of this, but a GIGANTIC PIG came out of the jungle on one side of the road, crossed in front of me, and disappeared into the jungle on the other side!

If I had had earplugs on, I wouldn't have heard it squealing at me. I've never laughed so hard in my life! Unfortunately, I was only with the two teenage female guides at that point (not my family or other passengers) and their aplomb about it all lessened my enjoyment!

Karen

[OakLeaf]

We-e-e-e-ll, no I haven't been to Jamaica, but I doubt that a mountain bike track with pigs running across it has traffic noise exceeding 80 dBA which is what's street legal for a single vehicle at low RPM, never mind illegally modified exhaust systems, revving motors, or the collective noise of hundreds of vehicles at once.

And if you don't protect your hearing when you're in traffic and wind up with severe hearing loss, then you'll hear even less of your surroundings.

[Tuckervill]

Oak, I was responding to Mr. Silver being afraid of animals running out in front of him. It was all a tongue-in-cheek sidetrack.

A PIG ran out in front of me. It was funny. Sorry you didn't get it.

Karen

[OakLeaf]

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.

[Miranda]

Okay, I've been lazy about posting about this, since the pictures aren't on my computer...but...

We went to Jamaica on our cruise last month, and did a downhill mountain biking excursion. (Your imagination is NOT good enough to envision this, unless you've been to Jamaica.) I don't have a picture of this, but a GIGANTIC PIG came out of the jungle on one side of the road, crossed in front of me, and disappeared into the jungle on the other side!

If I had had earplugs on, I wouldn't have heard it squealing at me. I've never laughed so hard in my life! Unfortunately, I was only with the two teenage female guides at that point (not my family or other passengers) and their aplomb about it all lessened my enjoyment!

Karen

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.

[Miranda]

I hesitated before posting this, because I know a lot of people disagree, and some violently, and I really don't feel like rehashing it all over again. But you did ask for personal expereinces, so here's mine

I ride with earplugs and with music on. I still hear traffic, but I don't hear it from a long distance. I compensate by using my eyes. I turn around and look a LOT. I feel that hearing is very subordinate to eyesight when it comes to taking in my surroundings. When I take the earplugs out I hear more, and louder, but it doesn't feel like it tells me anything I didn't already know. If I have to ride home wearing glasses rather than my contacts it freaks me out, though.

Caveat: I ride either on city roads where there's traffic all the time, at not very high speeds, (i.e., I have to ride in a straight line at all times anyway, and there are very few vehicles "suddenly" turning up) or on bike paths where there's no traffic at all. I might choose to not wear earplugs if I rode on roads with little but high-speed traffic.

I think that if you need to wear earplugs, you will adapt just fine, but you might have to retrain the way you ride.

I confess to riding with music pre-all of my hearing concerns coming to the surface. I didn't use earplugs tho. I know this will sound insaine, but I used the mp3 function of my cell phone w/portable speakers at a low level. Affixed to the top tube of my bike. With car traffic, could not hear the music, just cars. Good thing. In dead silence on the road, I could hear the tunes without my ears being plugged in. Stopped that tho. I know riders who use one ear plug with an Ipod. Like the right ear, and the left closest to passing traffic no plug. Music motivates my pedaling, so thus why I used it. But, now I'm done with the problem I have. I do think I could maybe use a filtered ear plug for the closest traffic ear. Maybe nothing on the other side. I'm hoping the ENT doc will have some feedback on that for me. I would imagine too that it depends on what amount of hearing loss I have, AND what is an appropriate trade off in my specific case.