Additional recommendations about: Accommodations - 3/3

This is the last part of the list about Accommodations that could be considered when hyperacusis and tinnitus arise:

12. As sound tolerances improve, patients tend to have little difficulty weaning themselves off drugs that have helped initially. Consult with the doctor when taking any medication. Since our ears are most sensitive in the morning and at night, alarm clocks are hard. Even alarm clocks in a nearby bedroom are difficult. Clock radios are better, but keep the volume down. A great idea for an alarm is connecting your bedside lamp to a security light switch timer. Set the timer as the alarm. When the timer cycles in - your lamp turns on and wakes you very quietly. Bose just introduced a clock radio that slowly turns the volume from zero to a preset volume when the alarm goes off. Keep bathroom doors closed if you get up before we do. Vibrator wristwatches are also available and prove to be a gentle way to wake up in the morning.

13. Most of us have difficulty talking on the telephone. Consider purchasing a Handset Amplifier from Radio Shack ($25.00) which has a volume and tone control. If you reduce the volume and tone control all the way down, the normal ear can barely hear anyone talking on the other end. The unit can be velcroed to the side of any existing telephone, and can easily be readjusted when someone else in the family uses the phone. Also, please make sure to turn the ringer down on all your phones. If needed, you can buy a strobe light box made exclusively for the telephone from Radio Shack. It has three adjustments - flasher, ringer, or both. A wonderful business phone system is the Partner Plus by AT&T. What makes this system so unique is that you can control the volume of the three problem areas - incoming audio, ringer, and speakerphone. The volume on all three areas can be reduced below normal (normal to the normal ear) limits.

14. Fan noise is particularly bothersome to many of us. Ceiling fans can be almost whisper quiet if you find the right one. Hunter (brand) ceiling fans are an excellent buy. Some of us have a difficult time getting to sleep if traffic (planes, trains, and automobiles) are nearby. Some even have difficulty with crickets at night, rustling leaves, and birds singing in the early morning.

15. Remember that the whine of the fan to cool the hard drive on a computer is soft, but high pitched. Fortunately, the QZ2000 noise cancellation headset or foam earplugs can help you with that. If you get to choose a new computer, the network can give you some recommendations on quiet computers.

16. Some printers are quiet considering the dreaded alternative of a dot matrix printer. Photocopy machines and typewriters are difficult for us when they are in operation. Your tolerances may depend on the acoustics in the room and how tight your working quarters are. @

Texts extracted from The Hyperacusis Network web page (Supplement section), with the permission of its editor. (see “related links” in this blog)

Additional recommendations about: Accommodations - 2/3

Continued list about Accommodations to be considered when hyperacusis and tinnitus arise:

7. The most ideal heat in home is hot water heat. It is the quietest and no fans are running. Forced air may be tolerable as long as the bedroom is not located near or directly above the furnace. Heat pumps are offensive and often make banging noises. Window air conditioners are also a problem. Central air conditioners are by far the best but keep the fan rpm's (revolutions per minute) at a moderate range.

8. Also, try to fine tune your door closures so they close quietly. Be careful on windy days. Door closures are the worst maintained part of any public building. Many buildings have doors, which screech when they open and bang when they close. It is a good idea to always open a public entrance door slowly and keep your hand on it until it closes to prevent any surprises (remember - dynamic range!).

9. Many of us have difficulty riding in a car, bus, train, and especially an airplane. Road noise entering the car is hard, particularly if the windows are open. It is worse when it is a windy day. Sometimes closing the window on the drivers' side, opening a window on the passenger side, and driving in the far right lane of traffic may help. If you are the owner of a car, electric windows are a must so that you can control the noise entering the car. Learn to be a control person (with noise that is).

10. When car alarms go off we are either running or making a quick departure with our fingers in our ears. The chime or bell ringer on newer cars for signaling ignition start up and seat belts should be removed no matter what your mechanic tells you about safety standards. Although some dealerships may refuse to remove this, they can tell you where it is located and it is relatively simple to unplug it yourself. If your condition is explained to them or you show them this supplement - most will take it out for you. Some dealerships have even called The Hyperacusis Network to ask if this sound sensitive customer is 'for real' before disconnecting some of this safety equipment. They may still insist on you signing a waiver to free the dealer from any liability, but in many instances it is well worth it.

11. Whenever we are indoors and hear an echo - we are in trouble. Rooms that have acoustical ceiling tile, carpeting, window treatments, and lots of furniture help. Shopping malls with high ceilings are bad - particularly eating areas. To make matters worse, some have water fountains with splashing water. It can help if we spend most of our time in shops rather than the center walkways of a mall.

(to be continued on the next posts)

Texts extracted from The Hyperacusis Network web page (Supplement section), with the permission of its editor. (see “related links” in this blog)

Additional recommendations about: Accommodations - 1/3

Recommended accommodations when hyperacusis arise:

1. Ranch homes are quieter than multi-level homes, and masonry homes are quieter than non-masonry homes. If you are building a two - story home, insulate the interior walls, floors, and ceiling round your bedroom if necessary. Use lots of carpeting, and do not put the air conditioner compressor near your bedroom window. Use cast iron drainpipes on a two-story home to significantly reduce the sound of water draining through the pipes. It is important that our living quarters not be near interstate highways or heavily traveled roads. We should not live in the flight pattern of an airport or near railroad tracks that are still in use. Some of us move frequently to find a more sound friendly neighborhood and home/apartment.

2. Consider putting spray attachments to existing water faucets. These can be purchased at most hardware stores.

3. For new home construction it is better to have cast iron drainpipes run through insulated walls. Plastic drainpipes make unnecessary noise especially in a two-story home.

4. The kitchen is the other danger zone in the house. The sound of silverware hitting dishes or hitting the floor is distressing to almost all of us. It helps to use place mats, Chinet paper plates, and plastic eating utensils. Although this is the ideal, practically speaking we know we can't just throw out our dinnerware! Just watch us - we give new meaning to the phrase "eating quietly."

5. This may come as a surprise to you, but some of us are even bothered by the sound of the fan running underneath the refrigerator. Many companies are still working on quiet refrigerators. The quietest refrigerator is a propane refrigerator available through RV (recreation vehicle) dealers. Unfortunately, these refrigerators usually are smaller (10 cubic feet). Some people in the network actually put their refrigerator in their garage. Some buy refrigerators, which are not frost - free. This cuts down on the fan running under the refrigerator. Always check Consumers Reports magazine when buying appliances. Usually they rate the appliance for noise.

6. Another great help is putting heavy felt cushions on all kitchen cabinet doors and drawers so they do not bang when they are closed. Also, try to deactivate the beep on your microwave. One beep would be plenty, but most microwaves beep three and four times.

(to be continued on the next posts)

Texts extracted from The Hyperacusis Network web page (Supplement section), with the permission of its editor. (see “related links” in this blog)

How to insulate a room to attenuate loud noise

A brief description of how to insulate a room to attenuate internal and external noises when hyperacusis arise.