Headsets

[Loveclimbing]

Hi there, I have had tinnitus most of my life but since developing Meniers disease last year it is unbearable at times. I have managed to adjust but I am finding work very difficult. My job is helping very vulnerable people over the phone, calls can last anything from 20 mins to 3 hours. I wear a headset with a microphone. I am not allowed to have the call come through the laptop speaker due to data protection and sound quality. I have tried several different headsets but the problem is always the same. When I get a sound direct into my ear (right ear especially) the tinnitus increases significantly, it can then lead to vertigo and headaches. I am currently using a shokz headset, were the speaker sits infront of my ear, but still get the same issue. I am seeing an NHS ENT consultant end of June after an 18mth wait, so may get some advise, but wondered if anyone on here can help. Does anyone else have to use a headset or ear phones for long periods of time, if so how do you do it. Any advise would be great, after working for this company for 27 years and loving my job I really dont want this to beat me. However, I can't carry on with this. Thank you x

[Ray200]

You might want to give proper headphones a go. Best are those for gaming, they have a volume control on the wire. I find anything other than headphones 'send' the noise into the ear. With headphones the noise 'is around' the ear and you pick it up passively. Anyway, just how it works for me.

[Happyrosie]

a poster had a fairly similar question a few days ago - scroll down and see if it and the answers help you.

[Pineappleonpizza]

I work in a call centre and use Evolve over the ear noise cancelling headset. I think it’s Evolve 80. Can you do some wfh?

[Pineappleonpizza]

I also think your employer must have some responsibility to work with you on this? Like an in work assessment?

[Loveclimbing in reply to Pineappleonpizza]

The company I work for have been brilliant, I am on my 4th headset now, and they really are trying to help me. I will ask about evolve 80. I also heard yesterday that there is speaker and microphone set that might work. I do work from home, as my vertigo makes it difficult to drive at times, so hoping there is more equipment out there. Thank you for your advise.

[Pineappleonpizza]

I’m glad they are being supportive, that’s great. What’s the speaker and microphone set? That’s interesting

[Loveclimbing in reply to Pineappleonpizza]

I'm not sure yet I have to speak to work place assessments again. Apparently it is direction controlled. Therefore you can only hear from the speakers when you are facing the speakers and the mic will only pick up your voice when you are right in front of it. So this will help with background noise and data protection. I will let you know when I find out more. I'm guessing it is really expensive though, so fingers crossed companies will fund it.