Any of you guys have hearing damage?

[hso]

We have had a number of threads on noise and hearing loss. Search under "decibels" and you'll find plenty of good information.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=200083&highlight=decibels
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=190859&highlight=decibels
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=256966&highlight=decibels

 

[SundownRider]

Found this, thought it was an interesting article that held some promise about "rebooting" the brain to cure tinnitus.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110112132130.htm

 

[OC_]

Well, that's an interesting article. I hope that research goes somewhere and bears fruit.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

SundownRider, that article is what my hearing doctor told me. With a lack of other sounds going to the brain, the brain gets focused on one frequency. He also told me that over time the ringing should ease with the use of hearing aids. Guess I will find out. He doesn't treat the tinnitus unless it is debilitating, especially if you don't have insurance that will pay. I also learned that I should have gotten hearing aids when I had insurance, medicare and my retirement coverage only paid for the exam. Cost me $4,000 but I went for the bluetooth feature. I'm on the computer, listening to the tv with the sound off so my wife sleeps undisturbed. Couldn't do that before.

Lost most of the hearing in my left ear driving trucks. The exhaust stack ended less than two feet from my left ear. I was in my early twenties. Finally gave in and got hearing aids this winter when I wanted to hear my grand-daughter.

For those with balance problems, a physical therapist can usually do a world of good. Another lesson I learned the hard way.

 

[shiftyer1]

Loud music
loud motoercycles
loud machinery and tools
and loud guns, killed my hearing. My ears have been ringing forever and I have a hard time hearing or understanding things constantly. My sons know that if I ask them to repeat something they need to look at me when they speak.

I wear hearing protection when shooting now because it is truley painful not to
I still listen to loud music sometimes....guess i'm stupid

 

[Radium]

just had my hearing tested a few months ago.i allways shoot with protection. mostly just single.active peltors. im 23 my hearing was above average , the nurse said my numbers where really good. but not superman good. eventough that i have a hard time hearing what my friends say. specially when women har talking..

 

[SwampWolf]

i have a hard time hearing what my friends say. specially when women har talking..

I know what you mean. Wives can be especially hard to understand sometimes.

 

[BADUNAME37]

What?

 

[McCall911]

I know what you mean. Wives can be especially hard to understand sometimes.

Exactly. Sometimes hearing loss can be a mixed blessing.

 

[speaksoftly]

Heh?

Sorry...couldn't help it. haha

 

[VT Deer Hunter]

MAN OH MAN! Yes i do and i am not that old. I have tinnitus and cant hear as well out of my right ear, but i am a right handed shooter. Not sure how much.

 

[blueridgerunner]

Constant firing of a M60 machine gun in a UH1-B didn't do mine any good.

 

[Ole Coot]

Over 50yrs ago we never thought about shooting causing hearing loss. That and noisy working conditions got me early(around 40) and getting worse.

 

[Chuck41]

I am very careful about using hearing protection. Have had tinnitus all my life. Had malaria as a kid and they cured it with Quinine which kinda loused up my hearing. Twenty years flying airplanes in the USAF didn't help, but I used hearing protection religiously. A good pair of electronic hearing protectors that allow you to hear other folks on the range is a big help. Won't get your hearing back, but will keep you from making it worse.

 

[makarovnik]

I've had bad tinnitus for over 20 years from listening to loud music and working in a print shop without hearing protection.

Guard what hearing you have left the best you can. I try to wear hearing protection whenever I mow the lawn or use power saws and such.

The ringing can really make you insane and mine gets a lot worse when I'm sick or on certain types of antibiotics. In the end I think the only thing that might help is Valium or something similar.

Sorry you have this problem. It is nasty but you must learn to deal with it. I like to think of my ringing as my little friend inside my head. He doesn't say much but he whines a lot.

 

[Nushif]

I worked on a flightline for a couple years, love Metal and while I've shot without hearing protection only *once* I still lost a pretty good chunk.

Chalk it up to an EPIC life.

 

[remmy70]

My hearing is fine unless you sit on my strong side in which case all I hear is a ringing sound.

 

[shooting time]

I have hearing loss due to shooting also .I just had my hearing checked because if there is background noise and someone is speaking i have a hard time making out the words.My ears constantly ring(Tinnitus) and i have 65% loss in my left ear and 20% in the right.I guess I should have used ear plugs when i was young and thought I didn't need them.

 

[hardluk1]

I grew up running airboats, going to the drag strip, Shotting handguns and shotguns, Motorcyle rideing. Never thought about ear plugs till I find I have a steady chirping sound in my ears. I will change pitch once in a while. I can still here highs and lows as well then many other my age BUT if several people are talking at the same till or the tv's on and someone ask a question i really have to focus to hear with back ground noise. Can't here the acadias or crickets. When i sleep i do need a fan or some kind of back ground noise to help break up the chirpping sound. Atleast both ears still work equaly as good or bad.

 

[Mp7]

Earring damage?

Man, i had not even fathomed that
there would be even earring wearers on this forum.

 

[BooBoo1000]

Many years of shooting a full load 44 Special, and all kinds of boomers 300 Win Mag 338 Win Mag 45-70, has left me deaf as a door nail. So Hearing aids in both ears, at about $ 6,000 per set. So you young guys, don't think you are indestructable,and use good hearing aid/
good plugs and muffs should keep your hearing protected, and good for life. Too late for me.

 

[LemmyCaution]

An earlier poster noted that his tinnitus was alleviated by reducing his salt intake. I believe this has to do with hydration. I find that keeping myself well hydrated greatly reduces my tinnitus. Salt will, of course, dehydrate your body. As will caffeine.

So if you can't cut out the salt and caffeine, at least drink more water.

I also take aspirin (decaf) regularly, which seems to help with hydration by thinning the blood. But you should consult your doctor before taking any drug off label.

 

[gregj]

I developed Tinnitus from riding bikes with no ear plugs. The wind noise/pulses are not good on the ears. As a result, I also double up. I use 33RNR foam plugs, and decent electric ear muffs, turned way up so I can still hear the RO commands. It sucks, but I've come to live with it, especialy if I want to enjoy shooting.

 

[gunplumber]

Wife says if I lose any more hearing I'll be talking to myself......I don't shoot anything bigger than a 22 without protection.

 

[Zach S]

Yep. The usual loud environments when I was young, and 23 years working around machinery around the 80 to 90 decibel range.

Same here, just not for as long.

I don't double up at indoor ranges unless someone is shooting a magnum caliber, or one that just seems unusually loud to me (.357 SIG). I use plugs, but have muffs in the rangebag just in case. I have electronic muffs in my shop which get used religiously, and hearing protection is required for the massive amount of time I'm at work (I average 10 hours a week overtime - throughout the year).

I don't wear hearing protection religiously, I just use my judgment. Apparently it works, I do an audiogram once a year and my hearing is still above average for my age. I've had pretty much the same results over the last three years - and I work graveyard shift. My results would probably be better if I got tested before my shift, rather than at the end of it.

I use classic earplugs for the most part, uncomfortable as a wedgie in church, but they work well. You can buy kits online for custom fit, then you get effective and comfortable hearing protection.

If you think its a little too loud, don't "deal with it," add protection, or in the case of the range, go back later. Once its gone, it doesn't come back - so take care of what you have left.