Tinnitus
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 529
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota
I wear Surefire EP4 earplugs with a Shoei RF-1100. These earplugs block the wind noise but allow me to hear the road sounds, my bike, my helmet speakers, car horns, etc. Very happy with these earplugs.
(Choose a size to see the price)
(Choose a size to see the price)
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,053
Likes: 39
From: San Diego
As you may surmise from the responses, everybody experiences this a little differently, and have different solutions.
I understand that every every time you expose your ears to sounds that cause temporary ringing, that hearing damage has occurred. In the beginning it may not be noticeable, but the damage accumulates.
Best to go to an ENT Dr. if you have insurance, or to a hearing aid dealer (who will test you for free) and get an audiogram. They will sit you in a quiet place and play different frequencies for you to note at what volume you can just hear them. You can compare this to normal hearing to see what damage may have been done, and at what frequencies.
This becomes your base line, and you can go back every couple years to see if it is getting worse (it rarely gets better).
Sometimes plugs work, other times you can benefit from aids. Will all depend on your specific results.
Best solution is prevention. Avoid noisy helmets and loud pipes. Just the wind noise alone can kill your higher frequencies. Compressed air can do the same thing.
When you are being tested, ask about custom mold ear plugs. They can even be set up to allow normal voices and sounds to come in clearly, but filter out the louder, and damaging sounds. Not as cheap as the 10 cent foam plugs, but might be worth it to you.
I understand that every every time you expose your ears to sounds that cause temporary ringing, that hearing damage has occurred. In the beginning it may not be noticeable, but the damage accumulates.
Best to go to an ENT Dr. if you have insurance, or to a hearing aid dealer (who will test you for free) and get an audiogram. They will sit you in a quiet place and play different frequencies for you to note at what volume you can just hear them. You can compare this to normal hearing to see what damage may have been done, and at what frequencies.
This becomes your base line, and you can go back every couple years to see if it is getting worse (it rarely gets better).
Sometimes plugs work, other times you can benefit from aids. Will all depend on your specific results.
Best solution is prevention. Avoid noisy helmets and loud pipes. Just the wind noise alone can kill your higher frequencies. Compressed air can do the same thing.
When you are being tested, ask about custom mold ear plugs. They can even be set up to allow normal voices and sounds to come in clearly, but filter out the louder, and damaging sounds. Not as cheap as the 10 cent foam plugs, but might be worth it to you.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 120
Likes: 4
From: St. John's NL
Like a lot of others who have posted, I use to get ringing in my ears after a day of riding and hated the wind noise. I've always worn an HJC full face.
I tried foam plugs and the rubber plugs but they hurt my ears.
Last year, I went to an audiologist to get my hearing tested and she found some hearing loss but not enough to require hearing aids. So for this year, I decided to try the custom made solution.
http://www.noisebrakers.com/home
These eliminate the hi frequency wind noise but allow traffic noise, talking etc to be heard.
They weren't cheap ($180 CAD) but hopefully will cut the wind-noise and lessen the need for hearing aids in the future..
KCM
I tried foam plugs and the rubber plugs but they hurt my ears.
Last year, I went to an audiologist to get my hearing tested and she found some hearing loss but not enough to require hearing aids. So for this year, I decided to try the custom made solution.
http://www.noisebrakers.com/home
These eliminate the hi frequency wind noise but allow traffic noise, talking etc to be heard.
They weren't cheap ($180 CAD) but hopefully will cut the wind-noise and lessen the need for hearing aids in the future..
KCM
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 421
From: Lansing mi
I have had Tinnitus for years,water running,cricket,s chirping,yea it will make you crazy.. I wear a 1/2 helmet and wear earbuds with my music.. If I keep my mind busy with listening to music or sounds it seems not to bother me too much.. At night when the house is quiet is the worse for me...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 6
From: Spokane, WA.
Gads- my ears are ringing at high pitch right now- dang tinnitus- sucks.
I have used foam cushy ear plugs with my 1/2 helmet with some good results-
with my full face- it seems worse but I need to try with the ear plugs.
Good luck with your ears.
I have used foam cushy ear plugs with my 1/2 helmet with some good results-
with my full face- it seems worse but I need to try with the ear plugs.
Good luck with your ears.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,062
From: King George, VA
I've had the Tinnitus since my active duty days. Served in an arty bn, fired mortars for three years, then ran teletype circuits over HF radio for another 20 years. Didn't think much of it and didn't go to sick call about it. Now VA won't approve service connected disability for it because it's not in my medical record.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: fl
I use ear plugs from Wally world. They are actually made for shooting. They are a soft molded rubber and they work to keep out the wind noise. The plus is you can still hear sirens ,horns etc. I went riding about 7 years ago and got a real bad case of tinnitus from all the wind noise. It drove me nuts for about 8 hrs until it stopped. Since then I wear a 3/4 helmet full face shield and these ear plugs. and I use the same plugs for work too. Great noise reduction and they are corded and reusable. When I am done riding I drop them in my saddle bag till next time.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: montana
Someone posted earlier about tinnitus being hereditary. My dad had it so bad that his doctor could actually here the ringing in his stethoscope. My sister and I both have it. I carry the soft foam ones with me all the time, as I am always shooting or working around machinery. Skill saw drives me nuts. My 3/4 helmet is worse than my 1/2. Actually is better without the ear plugs. Exhaust noise seems to resonate in the 3/4, but still wear the plugs.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 620
Likes: 61
From: Castle Rock, CO
I have tinnitus along with high frequency hearing loss. My tinnitus sounds like clanking metal.
I went several places for testing and the results were the same. I got hearing aids from Costco that have been great. The tinnitus is almost unnoticeable and I can participate in a lot more conversations because I know what is being talked about.
I use a ž HJC that does a good job muting the sounds. I don't wear my aids when I ride because they get pulled out when the helmet goeson. The aids go in a carrying case and when I stop for a while, they go back in.
For the guy that can't hear kids, I have one of my three programs set to help with that. Little kids are often very soft spoken and they usually speak with a lot of sibilance. (S sounds and hissing) both of these are really bad for understanding them but when I put my aids on program 3 I can start to understand the little ones.
I went several places for testing and the results were the same. I got hearing aids from Costco that have been great. The tinnitus is almost unnoticeable and I can participate in a lot more conversations because I know what is being talked about.
I use a ž HJC that does a good job muting the sounds. I don't wear my aids when I ride because they get pulled out when the helmet goeson. The aids go in a carrying case and when I stop for a while, they go back in.
For the guy that can't hear kids, I have one of my three programs set to help with that. Little kids are often very soft spoken and they usually speak with a lot of sibilance. (S sounds and hissing) both of these are really bad for understanding them but when I put my aids on program 3 I can start to understand the little ones.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 3,302
Likes: 275
From: Milton, Delaware
I was around, and worked on, jet fighters in the service. We usually had Mickey Mouse ears or ear plugs but I don't think they helped much. Ever since then I have occasional episodes of tinnitus that sounds like someone bouncing the end of a pencil on a hard surface. tick tick tick tick.
If I'm around loud noise for any amount of time the tinnitus comes back for a day or two.
A couple of years ago I switched to a full face Shoei 1100. It made a big difference. I started wearing small ear buds for an iPod and found that they really cut down on the wind noise as well. Interestingly, I can still hear surrounding noises pretty well.
If I'm around loud noise for any amount of time the tinnitus comes back for a day or two.
A couple of years ago I switched to a full face Shoei 1100. It made a big difference. I started wearing small ear buds for an iPod and found that they really cut down on the wind noise as well. Interestingly, I can still hear surrounding noises pretty well.