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Tinnitus..serious trouble...need advice!

I have some ringing in my ears. It comes and goes, or it's there all the time and some how I ignore it. As I was reading this post my ears started ringing. lol
 
I've had it for many years-too many ear infections, too many rounds fired and miles on a motorcycle. Mine keeps getting louder. I just deal with it. I still refuse to wear ear plugs when riding. At this moment, both of mine are screaming.

As others have said, wear plugs to try to slow the deterioration.
 
Speaking for myself, after years of listening to blasting music, shooting my shotguns during pheasant hunting, my job, in which I use pneumatic tools, chain saws, and throw in a good measure of heredity, I have lost the middle tones in speech. I have trouble hearing anymore. One of the enjoyments that I have with my bike is cruzin down some country roads on a trip to nowhere with my music cranked pretty high ( I don't do THAT through neighborhoods out of respect). But then I notice after riding all day between the loud music, wind buffeting & my pipes, I truly feel like my ears have taken a pounding. If I want to preserve what precious hearing that I do have left I had better start taking some pretty serious precautions or the future won't look so promising.
 
The foam plugs don't cut it with me either. I use a soft plastic type that i get at Lowes.

3M Tri-Flange Reusable Corded Earplugs


tn381s3.jpg


Even with these I still have some ringing, but I don't think it has gotten any worse.
 
Doug S said:
Hi,

I'm walking down the hall at work a couple weeks ago & like you hit a switch, my ears just started ringing. I've had it befor, someone shoots a gun near you or some other loud noise but it always just went away. Not this time and there is no noise at work and I wasn't even riding the bike. I've had a little hearing loss for a number of years, loud airplanes, guns, cars, bikes, and I'm just a little south of 60 - have taken their toll. I wear ear muffs, even when weed wacking, foam plugs on the bike but I think the wind noise is what got me and the plugs might have made that worse. It went away for a few days but came back with a vengance, I've cut back on coffee and booz, got lots of sleep and stayed off the bike(killing me)-but the noise is managable now. I can live with the level it is at now but not when it's louder, seriously this is maddening when it's really loud-(like a cheap radio inbetween stations with the volumn up).


I start a series of Dr. appointments on Monday but from what I've read, I'm gonna be stuck with this to some degree.

To those that have it or know about it:

1: Is it worth the risk of making it worse if you keep riding?
2: What special precautions do you take? Does a windshield reduce the wind noise? 3/4 Helmet-Fullface? Active earmuffs?

Sorry to bore you all with my problems but almost everything I like involves louder noise and the bike is #1

Thanks,
Doug
Click to expand...

Doug,

Not sure about your two questions but here is what I've learned after
years of tinnitus after a lifetime of environment allergies and ear infections. When you go see the Doc's, ask them specifically if you have any excess ear wax buildup. The wax next to the ear drum can cause the ringing. Every so often, I have to get my ears flushed out by the Doc. This reduces some of the ringing.
 
I forgot to tell you that I also wear a 3/4 helmet with the plugs. It does quieten things down with a combination of the plugs and helmet.
 
I had the same issues with tinnitus that progressed after an 8 hour ride over a month ago. I've switched to a 3/4 helmet a couple of years ago, but wind noise has a habit of sneaking past the foam ear plugs creating the ringing problem we are now experiencing. Two weeks ago I made an appointment with the Audiology Department at Sharp Rees Stealy here in San Diego. My doctor made ear molds for a custom set of motorcycle specific ear plugs made for me by a company in Colorado Springs called "Westone". They are specialists in this field. I've been riding with my new filtered plugs for over 2 weeks and I can't express the quality of the product Westone produces. If you look at their website you will see that they make specific plugs for musicians, military etc. Filtering allows normal sounds to enter the ear but block harmful noise levels. They are comfortable and can be ordered with a lanyard. The plugs fit deep in the canal so sliding a tight fitting helmet over your ears allows them to stay in place. Good luck!!
 
R.Bingham said:
The foam plugs don't cut it with me either. I use a soft plastic type that i get at Lowes.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_74540-98-90586-80025_0_?productId=3102561&Ntt=ear+plugs&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=ear%20plugs$y=0$x=0&spellCorrectedTerm=earplugs

078371905866lg.jpg


Even with these I still have some ringing, but I don't think it has gotten any worse.
Click to expand...

yes, have the ringing as well as others have stated. Most times I'm not aware of it, while other times I seem to really hone it on it. Yes, it is aggravating.

These type plugs, to me, are like wearing a stethoscope. Just rubbing the connecting cord in between your fingers, I can hear the noise transmitted along the cord directly into my ears via the plugs, when inserted. And wind noise has the same amplification effect wearing these type plugs.

I find the foam type plugs to be the best. One thing you need to do is before inserting, pull on the top part of your ear with your other hand to open up your ear canal, and then insert. Hold them for about 5sec while they expand. These things for me knock down the noise so much, that at times I'm probably removing too much ambient noise. But I find the foam plugs to work remarkably well in knocking down the noise level.
 
I have had it for 43 years. 24 hours a day, 7days a week, 52 weeks a year...constant ! It stays at a constant level and then, for no reason, it will kick up 2 or 3 notches for a bit. It has gotten so that it has become part of my life. I have just learned to live with it, does get to me at night while trying to fall asleep. The VA has just given me a rate of 10% for it (thats the most they will allow) but no doctor has given me a solution for it.
Guess it is what it is, I do know that I'm not going to give up riding. Why give up the one thing I enjoy the most, and still have the ringing in my ear ? I have seen some commercial on the tube for some stuff that "they" say will help, wouldn't hold my breath.
 
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