Mykola (Rookie)

Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:31 pm

Is it tinnitus if it only occurs occasionally?

I used to ride without earplugs often, and occasionally without earplugs or a helmet at up to 60mph; That was until I started having 'episodes' of tinnitus. It isn't persistent, the experience usually follows this pattern:
-Ambient noise becomes muffled over 1-2 seconds
-A roaring water/waterfall-type of noise (not loud, heard as if through 5-10 feet of rock) rises up for about 5 seconds
-The classic 'ringing' noise replaces the waterfall, and persists for another 5-10 seconds, but it is still subtle.
-Normal hearing seems to return during the ringing, and all is back to normal as the ringing fades.

Earplugs don't seem to suppress or exacerbate these episodes, but then again I don't have them often enough to make rigorous observations.
I now wear earplugs EVERY time I ride, and often have them in during the regular course of the day, and the ringing hasn't gotten any worse.

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• Do you notice your tinnitus more when you wear your earplugs? — Bokonon, Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:03 am

  • Is it tinnitus if it only occurs occasionally? — Mykola, Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:31 pm

  • Playing guitar with a GOOD amp helps a ton, too... — AlanS, Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:55 pm

    • What about musician earplugs? — funkshn, Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:39 pm

      • I never looked into them - that might be something to try! (n/t) — AlanS, Fri Jul 02, 2010 6:36 am

        • Yes, couple of hundred dollars well spent if you see much stage time (n/t) — Wes, Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:46 am

    • tinnitus and hearing loss is not the same thing (n/t) — MIK, Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:01 pm

      • They go hand-in-hand, though — AlanS, Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:33 pm

        • Reading wikipedia and other sources... — MIK, Thu Jul 01, 2010 9:49 pm

  • only for the first 10 seconds... then it's back to ignoring it (n/t) — MIK, Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:53 pm

  • Not sure I have tinnitus — eincello, Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:30 pm

  • Make it stop... MAKE IT STOP!!!! — Ian, Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:14 am

    • Q: So, why can't this be cured again? A: Because it's all in your head (n/t) — Wes, Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:35 pm

      • or because no one cares enough to fund the research. (n/t) — MIK, Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:00 pm

    • When it gets really bad, Ian starts locking threads. (n/t) — funkshn, Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:27 pm

  • The reason is that earplugs suppress other sounds, so your — levchen, Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:44 am

  • No, but then again I don't believe I have tinnitus...... — Ivan, Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:09 am