Driving and T

[Bridie70]

Hi all...since my recent bout of increased T I'm now find driving in my van uncomfortable...Its noisy being a small panel van and I worry its detrimental to my T and definable seems to increase its intensity...acoustical it sounds unpleasant too....but factors could also be me stressing its making it worse...making it worse.. if you see what I mean. I have a decibel reader and a couple of apps on my phone and have used all to measure the noise levels. With the hand held reader doing a weighted reading, it's always about 109 - 112. On my apps with don't have the option of dBA or dBC...it reads about 90. Does anyone have their own experience of driving with T?

[777john]

Hello Bridie yes every time I drive my T screams at me but it always goes back to normal when I stop driving, it is horrible but I can lose my self and ignore it probably because I am so used to it,JUST occasionally it's not to bad

[PABLR]

It seems as though it's the noise from the van itself that is most bothersome for you at the moment and you are worrying about the tinnitus increasing because you are more aware of the van noise. Is that correct? If so, have you thought of wearing earplugs that would cut out some of the surround sound, but not all? Obviously you can drive without hearing, but it helps to be aware of sirens, etc.

[KC1961 in reply to PABLR]

Earplugs have to be worth a try. Loads of motorcyclists wear them, they hear sirens etc.

[Bridie70]

I have tried plugs, defenders, plugs and defenders...but the cab noise still bothers me...I know road conditions are a factor in it as I can hear them changing it too...one friends car doesn't bother me, even though its the car version of my van and another friends car, totally different type, does a bit on bad surfaces...I'm pretty sure it must be in part dues to acoustics, tyres, and road surfaces. Its really making my world small, not driving.

[Bridie70]

Ps...wearing plugs and defenders also traps in your personal T noise, which is also unpleasant

[Lefty51]

Hi Bridie, my T increases with driving, too. I'm not sure whether it's due to the stress of driving or the reverberation factor of sound within the car - probably a combination of both. I find it does tend to go back to it's normal level by the following morning. Do you try playing a CD in the van when you're driving?...it may help to mask out the T. Best wishes...

[Bridie70]

I haven't...probably because the noiser it gets....I feel the anxiety rising...which is all going in the wrong direction. It's reassuring in a way to know it doesn't only happen to me....not that I want others to suffer.