(Part 2) Best products from r/tinnitus

I have tinnitus, and I was gifted the Bose QuietComfort 20 Headphones by my father, who also has tinnitus. The are a bit pricey, but these are a joy. These go with me everywhere.

They are comfortable, lightweight, good quality sound, and excellent quality noise-suppression.

It's important to note that these don't eliminate tinnitus, or suppress it even. Honestly the extreme silence that these provide actually isolate the tinnitus, but any noise-canceling headphones would. My tinnitus is congenital, so I'm long since used to it, but someone who is new to tinnitus might be uncomfortable having it highlighted. Whatever white nose your father's noisy environment provides may be helping to distract him from his ringing... these will scrub that white noise out.

Best of luck.

Sure thing.

However, if you’ve got the cash, you can get custom molded ones that will fit perfectly. It’s gonna start at around $500 though. Can definitely spend way more than that. Basically search for in-ear monitors, like what a stage musician would use.

Look at these by 64 Audio or these Bluetooth ones from Ultimate Ears.

There are plenty more companies out there, and lots of options from both of the ones above. I have an older universal set of dual driver earbuds from UE and I love them. I have friends who recently purchased some 64 Audio and love them. That’s why I mentioned those 2 companies in particular.

Bose sport models are super comfortable and come with smaller sized inserts. They have silicone wings that help keep them in place. I have a set that allows for ambient noise (running outside so need to hear cars), but they do have noise isolating models. Those will still run in the $100+ range, unless you can find a stupid good deal on eBay or some such.

In lieu of in-ears, you might look into some studio over-ear headphones that will cover your entire ear. Not quite as protective of outside noise, but better than ones that don’t cover your ear.

I don’t have any specific recommendations for those other than to stay away from Beats. I had a $20 set of Sony headphones from Walmart that sounded better than a $250 pair of Beats. No joke. Still use those actually haha.

I have been looking at a few, but Sennheiser, AKG, or Sony would have some decent models under $100. I’ve also looked at a $30 Tascam closed back set as an inexpensive monitor for work. Might be worth a look.

Yeah, absolutely factor in T when shopping for headphones, but I wouldn't say don't buy headphones, rather be smart about it.

The big issue with headphones is making sure you don't damage your hearing while using them. The most common way this happens is through people using headphones in already loud environments, so they need to crank up the volume in order to hear over the ambient noise.

To prevent that, find passive (active noise cancelling is another debate) noise cancelling headphones that will dampen the noise around you, so you aren't competing with those other sound levels. In this way, you will find an audible listening range at a much lower volume level. It's simple stuff, but people like to blow it out of proportion. The fact of the matter is there is almost negligible mechanical different of a sound wave hitting your ear drum whether the sound was created 10 cm away from your ear or 10 feet, if they both hit your ears at X decibels, they will both produce the same energy transfer on your ears and cause the same amount of "damage".

My recommendation:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-280-Pro-Headphones/dp/B000065BPB

At their best, they cut 32 db of ambient sound, giving you that much more room to listen to your music safely! (Note: I'm not sure what how much of each frequency they dampen. The idea is still there though, use good judgement.)

This is the set I use, because it's cheap and I was trying it out for the first time. It works, but sometimes I wake up with the cord tangled around an arm or my neck.

When these wear out, I'll be going for a wireless option, something like this.

I sleep on my side and my stomach. I use an app called Rain Sounds (android) to generate white noise. Best of luck, friend.

I bought this recently on Amazon and love it. It's usb chargeable and lasts like 16 hours and if you travel to a place with different electricity it's easy to charge unlike the momo or whatever the big white ones are. I used a phone app for a few years but I like this one because it doesn't have the looping sound and it's super small. Fits in the palm of your hand.

Answering self (but hopefully also other people who stumble upon this post later):

I ended up buying this thing, which looks like it's also available as this listing on Amazon.com (it looks identical, anyway, although the nominal brand is different).

It's not the best thing after sliced bread... but it's decent, I'm using it right now, and have kept it on for the past few days.

It has 7 built-in sound loops (white noise, flowing water, bird songs, train noise, wind gusts, rain and fireplace, crickets). I find this is an okay selection of the types of noises I'd also choose. The loops are a little short, though, and when you hear one of this all day, eventually you start recognizing repeating patterns, and that's a bit distracting. On the plus side, there is also a microSD card slot for adding custom sounds, although when I tried it, there was a brief pause after every playback (with the microSD sounds only, the built-in one are seamless), although I didn't test at length or with a blank SD card.

It weighs 80 grams, that's about half my mobile phone... light to hold, but not so light to wear around your neck, which is what I'm doing. It comes with a ridiculously short wrist strap, even for my small hands, but I don't care since I always intended to wear it with a neck strap. I am getting used to the small weight, but it's definitely perceivable.

I think it's so relatively large (still smaller than anything else I've found with a speaker, though... there was a smaller one that had headphones output only, but then I can just use my tiny Rockbox'd Sansa player... anyone this does also have headphones output) because the speaker is rather massive compared to the overall size, and because it uses an also relatively large BL-5B battery, a type used in older Nokia phones. These are both good things in my book, although it's probably going to be cheaper to buy another one of these than to replace the battery. But still.

Speaking of the battery, I was a little worried because the listing said it's good for 10 hours, but I was pleasantly surprised when the thing worked around the clock for 24 full hours, and then I just plugged it back in because I don't even care how long it can run when it runs for longer than a day. I suppose it probably lasts that long because I tend to keep it at a relatively low volume (it can get pretty loud if desired). Anyway, 10 hours would have been a little limiting, but >24 hours is great in that respect. It charges from a microUSB port (no charger included).

The volume adjustment method is not great, though: there are + and - buttons whose primary function is to change the sound being played; you have to hold them for longer to change the volume, which means it's not easy to just tap and get one volume step higher or lower. This is probably the most annoying thing about its "interface"; another, which compounds it, is that when you turn it off, it doesn't remember the last sound and volume.

Physically, if you place it upside down, it gets practically silent as the speaker is pretty much sealed if you cover the side it's on. Obviously there's no reason to put it upside down normally, but the way I wear it around my neck, I do tend to have to turn it around when the speaker side ends up against my shirt.

Silly little extra: it has a white LED you can use as a flashlight of sorts, although it's really dim compared to even a smartphone LED. It's already been of some use sometimes, though!

I have used earbuds while working to block out background noise for many years, from cheap ones to nicer noise cancelling ones, but this year over the last 6months I noticed ringing in my ear that seemed to get worse at night and I think I am starting to get tinnitus. On the off chance that it could help I decided to invest in $300 over ear Bose noise cancelling headphones to wear at work and almost immediately I noticed an improvement in my tinnitus. It's not completely gone, but it's 80% better. I think it's worth the investment because you can listen at a lower volume and still block out background noise. I also have a small speaker that I use to listen to babbling brooks and stuff while I sleep. I think that would be much better than wearing earbuds at night. If that's not an option, I also found a headband with earphones built in to use while sleeping. I think they were like these ones: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0046H8ZFU?keywords=sleep%20earphones&qid=1448949712&ref_=sr_1_7&sr=8-7 Hope that helps!

surprised nobody has suggested these but if you are just looking for noise reduction I'd highly recommend these (or something similar): http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Hearing-Protection-MusicSafe-Classic/dp/B0032BYCWG/ref=pd_sim_hpc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1SMSAKPS2M62Q730KMQ5

they provide decibel reduction so you can still hear everything but it isn't quite as loud. I love them for music concerts, loud bars, etc. because you can actually hear just fine unlike foam earplugs. Might be useful in a work situation too so he can still hear people calling him and such.

it is weird, but the mind is incredibly weird. I would try to be optimistic about your situation, in that, if you sort of got yourself into this at least partially because of psychological factors, you may well get yourself out.

I have a couple friends who don't have significant T, but can hear it in very quiet rooms, and have told me that when they focus on it, it becomes "deafening".

I am presently reading and really enjoying this book, and you might, as well: https://www.amazon.com/Suggestible-You-Curious-Science-Transform/dp/1426217897

A pop doesn't necessarily have to be anything bad at all. In fact it's pretty easy and harmless to force a pop by trying to exhale through your nose while pinching it (great tip for when flying). If you're really worried or have other symptoms, you could go to the doctor. But I'd be willing to bet you're perfectly fine.

Off-topic, but this book did a lot for me as cheesy as it may sound. Might not be applicable for you at all, but just thought I'd throw it out there: http://www.amazon.com/How-Stop-Worrying-Start-Living/dp/0671733354

Merry Christmas soon enuf =)

Thanks mate!

These things? https://www.amazon.co.uk/EarPeace-Concert-Ear-Plugs-Protection/dp/B076VTXWBP

The past couple days have been better. I've been eating a lot better and have reduced my workload at work which has helped. Had a good ten minutes of silence today and it was incredible. Really appreciate the advice. There's a lot of good stuff on this sub. Apart from the suicidal thoughts and such.

I guess that's kind of my point. Any earplug with a 32db rating is is what I use. I'm most interested in protecting my hearing and don't care if they show. I've used

3M 92059-80025T Disposable Earplugs, 80-Pair https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I7LH8Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e4gMyb75D28FZ

EarPlugs 50 Pair Orange Soft Foam Value Individually NRR 32DB Sleep Travel Noise https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0QAL99/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_T5gMybC6DYPPY

Hearos Ultimate Softness Bulk Pack Ear Plugs 20-Pairs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006BZ1KKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_c7gMybTMNGQPG

With excellent success.

These are the ones I have. I like the foam eat tips the best, and they are pretty discrete. If you want them to be more discrete you can take off the plastic pull tab. And it has an additional cord to attach if you want to keep them together.

Sennheiser hd-201 Squashes the high notes and keeps everything at a nice level for me. I think I just got lucky when I bought them, or cheap. They've been a lifesaver for me, though.

My biggest advice is not letting the tinnitus ruin anything you want to do. For me, I just accept the cards I was dealt, but I don't let it stop me from doing what I want to do. I've been battling issues with my ears my entire life. I've had consistent tinnitus for the last 2 years. I never let it stop me from attending concerts. I attend EDC and Coachella every year, as well as multiple other concerts, and I always wear ear plugs when I can. I've never had my ears feel worse or better afterward. I've tried many ear plugs over the years and for me these ones are hands down the best.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K18KSNA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Here are a few examples of attenuators you can use for headphones:

1. https://www.amazon.com/Shure-EAADPT-KIT-Adapter-Combines-Attachable/dp/B001P5HL3S/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=attenuator+mp3&qid=1569248903&s=electronics&sr=1-2
   
2. https://www.amazon.com/Ear-Buddy-Headphone-Optimizer-Travel/dp/B075PVVHF5/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=attenuator+3.5mm&qid=1569248936&s=electronics&sr=1-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A34JWT04R7KMFW&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyR1ZDUlNZS0JYWkhEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjM4MjY1M1RVU1lTWkpTR0Q0USZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNDMwODQxMjdPRTdDVjU2WkdZMCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=
   
3. https://www.amazon.com/Volbox-inline-audio-control-attenuator/dp/B071VL2GF8/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=attenuator+3.5mm&qid=1569248936&s=electronics&sr=1-5
   
   I got the second one listed which is good but there are a ton to choose from some more tailored than others.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/EarPeace-High-Fidelity-Hearing-Protection/dp/B00K18KSNA well im in the UK and these are the ones I use :P

FYI your link is messed up - fixed

Can you describe how these are different from the standard Ety ER20 plus that are half the price?

Here: https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-High-Fidelity-Earplugs-Standard-Polybag/dp/B00RM6Q9XW/


Also this one: https://www.amazon.ca/Etymotic-High-Def-Motorsport-Earplugs-Universal/dp/B010C8HZSY