Can putting plugs in ears cause dizziness?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Ears are kept regularly clear of build up of wax.

When I fit my earplugs (soft squidgy types). It's either 'on or off' - if I properly insert them then ride I occasionally get slightly dizzy on the motorway. That was alarming today.

If I don't insert them well enough they work their way out.


Anyone experienced this?

Does it cause a pressure build up with vibration/speed etc?

[Exasperated]

Get custom plugs. Best thing I ever did. Foam ones were just so inconsistent for me and never felt they were really working well until they were practically touching my brain.

[trickywoo]

Never experienced that myself.

The only thing I can think of being an issue is if one is fitted better than the other meaning higher sound one side which could be disorienting.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Yes the right one goes into the 'hole very easily where the right aperture is tighter/different shape so not a good/same insertion.

I dropped down to almost 40mph and came off the next available junction

[lancslad58]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Yes the right one goes into the 'hole very easily where the right aperture is tighter/different shape so not a good/same insertion.

I dropped down to almost 40mph and came off the next available junction

Without trying to sound clever, google "earplugs problems dizziness" or something like that.

"Based on the search results, earplugs can potentially cause dizziness in some individuals. Here are some key findings:..........."

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I'll bear that in mind if I'm sleeping..

[Herr Schnell]

It's the inner ear which regulates balance so I'd see an audiologist for a check if I were you. Could be something as simple as a wax plug deep in the ear needing irrigation or something else entirely.

[lancslad58]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

I'll bear that in mind if I'm sleeping..

I take it you couldn't be botherd reading further than the first page of results or perhaps changing the query slightly to get other results.

[srob]

I've never managed to get on with wearing ear plugs when riding. I wouldn't necessarily say it makes me dizzy but more disorientated feeling, which is really disconcerting.

[Tam_Mullen]

lancslad58 said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

I'll bear that in mind if I'm sleeping..

I take it you couldn't be botherd reading further than the first page of results or perhaps changing the query slightly to get other results.

Look at the sheer number of threads the OP starts/comments on. Its not really about getting an answer, most people would spend seconds on google and get what theyre looking for.

[srob]

Tam_Mullen said:

lancslad58 said:

Hugo Stiglitz said:

I'll bear that in mind if I'm sleeping..

I take it you couldn't be botherd reading further than the first page of results or perhaps changing the query slightly to get other results.

Look at the sheer number of threads the OP starts/comments on. Its not really about getting an answer, most people would spend seconds on google and get what theyre looking for.

Isn't that kind of the point of a forum though? Bit like being down the pub, you could answer almost any question with a quick Google but there's little/no fun in that. Even though everyone knows that someone who just googles and ends any fun debates

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Tam_Mullen said:

Look at the sheer number of threads the OP starts/comments on. Its not really about getting an answer, most people would spend seconds on google and get what theyre looking for.

Especially motorbikes - you can search for a problem, you find it and the OP doesn't update with if it fixed the solution or if with the passing of time others find a better solution.

Then you find people who post on topics with no actual value. Why bother?

[Sam Aigal]

Hmm, I thought it was the NPE section which was the home of ad homs and this was generally a safe place to ask questions.
For my part I'm happy to see all sorts of questions, some of which I'm interested in, some of which I'm not.
As regards ear plugs causing dizziness there could definitely be a link. As mentioned above balance is controlled by organs in the middle ear. A change in pressure could theoretically cause these to get a bit out of whack ( human physiology is nothing if not weird). Almost certainly nothing to worry about but unexpected vertigo can be an early sign of something that needs checking out. I'd keep an eye ( or ear) on it, especially if it starts happening for other reasons than ear plugs.

[ujio]

Exasperated said:

Get custom plugs. Best thing I ever did. Foam ones were just so inconsistent for me and never felt they were really working well until they were practically touching my brain.

Would you recommend any specific company for this? I realise my foam ones might not be as tight as they should be.

[black-k1]

Well, literally less than 2 minutes with Google identified a number of other cases where this happens. It would appear that a number of those cases were a result of reusing disposable plugs. Do you do that? If so, try using a new set of plugs every time you put them into your ears.

[Exasperated]

ujio said:

Would you recommend any specific company for this? I realise my foam ones might not be as tight as they should be.

This is the place I used, and I bought a set of their filtered plugs: https://ultimateear.com/product-category/motorcycl...

The best thing about custom plugs is the fit is always the same when you pop them in. You don't have to worry about pushing them in too far or not far enough, they're always perfectly positioned.

[ujio]

Exasperated said:

This is the place I used, and I bought a set of their filtered plugs: https://ultimateear.com/product-category/motorcycl...

The best thing about custom plugs is the fit is always the same when you pop them in. You don't have to worry about pushing them in too far or not far enough, they're always perfectly positioned.

Thanks a lot! Hopefully these will be comfortable and stay in place and very effective. Just realised the foam ones I use seem to worm their way out at some point.

[Caddyshack]

Another vote here for custom plugs

Also, don't go poking around inside the ear canal for ear-wax. Fine to clean just the outer ear but wax / ears are self cleaning and anything else should be left to a pro - this COULD cause ear issues.

With custom plugs you can change the filters to allow a bit more noise in as too much can take some getting used to and balance problems.

[trickywoo]

Everyone is different but I've used the rhubarb and custard Howard Leight for years without issue.

I also reuse them. I quite often sleep with them in so prolonged use.

[Bob_Defly]

black-k1 said:

Well, literally less than 2 minutes with Google identified a number of other cases where this happens. It would appear that a number of those cases were a result of reusing disposable plugs. Do you do that? If so, try using a new set of plugs every time you put them into your ears.

I sometimes reuse mine a couple of times. Anyone else?