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Comment by mancerayder | Hacker News Reader

I have tinnitus because I've spent the last two decades playing music through headphones to block out conversations and often music at work and in my commute. I'm still equally distracted/disturbed by other people's noise as day one.

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You had your ear wax checked? I thought I had tinnitus for years, then one time when getting checked on for a nasal infection the nurse commented on how waxy my ear was and asked if I'd like it removed. I thought sure and wow... my tinnitus immediately and completely went away. Just saying, get that checked if you have tinnitus. Turns out ear wax build-up is a major cause of it (it pushes against the ear drums).

This same thing happened to me. Nurse commented on my ear wax and upon removing I felt so much better (and had no more ringing).

Why the buildup? I've used q-tips every 3-4 days since a child and never had any ear wax buildup problems...

Q-tips aren't supposed to be used for cleaning wax out of ears. That's not what they're for, and the manufacturer and much of the medical establishment actively advises against it.

>Q-tips aren't supposed to be used for cleaning wax out of ears.

Well, they've worked just fine for me and millions of others (it's their most popular use). That said, there are indeed accidents from misuse.

Not sure what other people buy them for in the billions and have them at every bathroom. Cleaning vinyl records and nails?

They're (meant to be) used for applying and removing makeup, taking samples of fluids for medical purposes (e.g. DNA swab), cleaning small items such as jewelry or electronics, applying glue in arts and crafts.[1] Using them for ear cleaning is associated with a number of risks to the ear.[2] But you do you.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_swab#Use

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cotton_swab#Medical_risks

>They're (meant to be) used for applying and removing makeup

There are specialty items mostly commonly used for the latter (cotton pads), and I'm not sure the reason almost every household has cotton swabs in their bathroom for fringe activities like: "taking samples of fluids for medical purposes (e.g. DNA swab), cleaning small items such as jewelry or electronics, applying glue in arts and crafts".

That leaves "applying makeup" as the other main use.

(Yeah, I use them in my ears too).

Cotton swabs aren't as precise as a Q-Tip for some types of cleaning/detailing.

I didn't say most households were using them for their intended uses. And I'm not trying to convince you to change course.

Some people produce more earwax than others.

Is there a home remedy for this, or is this ear wax extraction something only a medical professional can perform?

Sure, hydrogen peroxide poured into your ear will dissolve it, but it might take a few "rinse and repeat" cycles.

Put a few drops of vegetable oil in your ears every night. After a few days or a week, it works its way out on its own.

At least, that's what my sisters tell me, both of whom get regular build-up of wax in their ears.

Before you played music too loud, actually. Playing music on a low volume will not give you tinnitus.

Playing music at a low volume also won't block out background noise.

blocking/masking noise at safe volume levels is very much possible with in-ear monitors and Comply Isolation tips

YMMV. For me, background noise in general isn't the issue. Rather the issue is specifically people talking, because my mind begins following their conversation. If I can render their voice unintelligible then it won't distract me. Low volume music often works for this.

NC headphones will though.

Not so much. They blow low frequencies, but not conversation or even music on the subway.

As someone with tinnitus, it is so much worse than background noise.

Now I love background noise because it's the only way I can escape tennitus (I hate headphones)

Unless you work at a construction site, it will to a very good extent.

Do you really need to drown office noise completely through maxed out music?

Then get some noise canceling headphones, over the ear, and that will take care of the background noise.

Better isolation will allow you to lower the volume. Etymotic ER4XR are my current go-to.

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