I think I gave myself tinnitis for nothing

[Carson Dyle]

Never heard tinnitus described as a "whir".

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have mild tinnitus from motorcycling. I've been wearing earplugs the last few years though so is preventing it from getting any worse at least. You get used to it.

 

[Craig234]

Never heard tinnitus described as a "whir".

No, the whir is the PC. The ear sound it's funny. My first reaction was 'this is a common sound'. Then I realized I can't actually think of anything quite like it. Constant high tone.

 

[Carson Dyle]

No, the whir is the PC. The ear sound it's funny. My first reaction was 'this is a common sound'. Then I realized I can't actually think of anything quite like it. Constant high tone.

Ok, yeah, that's tinnitus. Like a constant, high tone, as if from a tone generator. Lots of causes, though, not just damage from noise. High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, normal age-related hearing loss.

Have a google at 'notched sound therapy'. Sounds promising, but I believe you'll need to determine the frequency of the tone before you can try it.

http://www.audionotch.com/faq

 

[Craig234]

Interesting. I wouldn't say it even quite matches a 'tone generator', it's hard to describe. I tried the tone matcher on that site and I heard tones that sound too high or too low - I think it might be between 5 and 6 - but it's hard to find a match because it's not a very flat tone like that web site. It's not the same but imagine trying to match the exact tones to your PC fans - not really.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Just rub some dirt on it and man up... you'll be fine.

Next week, try standing up while you pee. It'll be a whole new world.

 

[Craig234]

Just rub some dirt on it and man up... you'll be fine.

Next week, try standing up while you pee. It'll be a whole new world.

Tinnitis is a sound in your head.

As opposed to your lack of anything.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

"For nothing"? Is it possible to give yourself tinnitus for a good cause?

I knew a professional musician who lost hearing in one ear serving in a war zone. So probably.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Again, 60db, even for prolonged periods, does NOT cause hearing damage (and therefore does not cause tinnitus due to inner ear damage). 60 db is the volume of nornal human conversation.

There is a lower volume limit, below which, even for infinite periods, hearing damage due to exposure will not occur. Look at the charts from multiple sources in this link. Extrapolate to 60db.

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/PermissibleExposureTime.htm

 

[Craig234]

Again, 60db, even for prolonged periods, does NOT cause hearing damage (and therefore does not cause tinnitus due to inner ear damage). 60 db is the volume of nornal human conversation.

There is a lower volume limit, below which, even for infinite periods, hearing damage due to exposure will not occur. Look at the charts from multiple sources in this link. Extrapolate to 60db.

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/PermissibleExposureTime.htm

Interesting info. I did as you suggested. Subtracting 3db from 85db at 16 hours is 7 subtractions to get to 61db. So, double 16 hours 7 times for the length it'll cause harm.

That exposure is 85 days. We're talking 8 years. So, ya.

I suspect type of sound matters also.

For example, conversation has ups and downs and a lot of silent breaks - not unrelenting.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Interesting info. I did as you suggested. Subtracting 3db from 85db at 16 hours is 7 subtractions to get to 61db. So, double 16 hours 7 times for the length it'll cause harm.

That exposure is 85 days. We're talking 8 years. So, ya.

No, that is 85 hours PER DAY... Which means never.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2016/02/08/noise/

 

[Craig234]

No, that is 85 hours PER DAY... Which means never.

https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=9735

https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2016/02/08/noise/

I see - so normally, 60db never will. I stilll wonder if that's different for some (mechanical, constant) sounds. Hopefully not and you're right, not that it gets rid of it.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Tinnitus sucks. My TMJ-induced tinnitus has forced me to take medical leave, but it's a pretty extreme case that should hopefully go away.

You could still absolutely have tinnitus for several other reasons, even unknown reasons (it's not well understood), but is very unlikely that the computer was the cause. Tinnitus sometimes goes away in its own. I would get a hearing test. I was shocked to learn I need hearing aids at age 33 (haven't gotten them yet). Some doctors believe the severity of tinnitus is less if you correct your hearing deficiencies early.