Hearing damage 45 ACP

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Each month a receive a payment from the VA for hearing impairment and exposure to Agent Orange. I am semi proficient in reading lips and really - really good at saying "Pardon Me What Did You Say". Thank you USMC and Viet-Nam. Needless to say I'm an advocate of Hearing Protection. I double up with protective ear plugs and headsets. For those that are to stupid to protect your ability of hearing that's up to you!
 
And about veterans and disability, good luck with getting compensated for it these days. Their official word is; "We gave you earplugs, if you didn't use them, that's your own fault." If you can't tie hearing lost to a documented event, like getting blown up, you're out of luck.
 
I've had tinnitus for as long as I can remember. Mostly from an incident when I was a kid.
Live out in the sticks...no neighbors, no HOA. I was on the deck reading and my dad popped out and ran off 20 rounds 7.62x39 in quick succession, within 10 feet of me. I think that was the main one. That, and a couple incidents of firearms being fired indoors. Those were 9mm, 357mag and 45acp. Aaah memories

Now, 22LR actually hurts, if I happen to fire one without protection.

But 45acp doesn't hurt. Just a pressurized thud, that doesn't pack that sharp sting a high pressure, or supersonic round creates.
 
If this is the first time you have done something like this the ringing will probably go away after a few days. I have been a sheet metal worker since 1989. I remember forgetting to put my ear protection back on one day after lunch when working in the shop. There were about 5 or 6 of us using air hammers to knock duct together (bend over Pittsburgh seams). My ears rang for about 3 days. Now after working in the trade 27 years I have ringing continuously. I'm just more aware of it at some times than others. In the shop we did usually use hearing protection. In the field not so much. I think using hammerdrills & powder actuated tools (ramset or hilti type shotguns) combined with beating on metal for a living is probably responsible for most of mine. Although I guess cutting metal with a sawzall & grinder probably didn't help either. I would strongly suggest being more careful from now on.
 
Tinnitus is weird, too.
Stress sometimes makes it worse. As will some sinus conditions. Quite a number of antibiotics will cause, or trigger tinnitus.

The medical thinking is that it's not actually the "dead" nerve cells, but the ones adjacent to those that cause it. The fine hairs that receive the signal are still in the ear, the nerves are just "broken." But, like everything else in the human body, it's not just the one nerve per hair. Which may eplain why certain frequencies can cause tinnitus to flare up, even if you cannot hear those frequencies.

I know that happens for me--there will be a bearing giving out, or mis-tuned amp, or the PA is almost feeding back, and it's like a nail in my head.

I've always doubled up around .223--the crack of the trans sonic bullet plus the muzzle report gives a greater sound impulse than a .44magnum.

.45acp is about 160dB; OSHA says "safe" impulse sound is < 140dB, as a single event. (OSHA's guidelines are expressed more for 8 hour shifts of exposure, too).

Here's a link: http://www.caohc.org/UserFiles/file/Shot of Prevention extra handout.pdf
 
Try getting to your doctor and ask if they'll give you a prescription for a dose pak for steroids. They may help reduce permanent damage if taken right away.

Those who don't recognize hearing damage it can be a nearly undetectable incremental loss without a noticeable loss that builds until recognized. Too late by then. Don't shoot without hearing protection...ever.
 
CapnMac said:
Stress sometimes makes it worse. As will some sinus conditions. Quite a number of antibiotics will cause, or trigger tinnitus
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Stress? Ditto. Sinus? Ditto. Antibiotics? Ditto. One for a tooth/bone/gum infection was terrible. Rings like a fire alarm and makes me want to cut my head off. Thank goodness most of the time is isn't that loud. Right now it's the loudest thing in the room. (Sinuses are stopped up.) *sigh*
 
I had a lot of sinus infections & antibiotics when I was younger, and my first experiences with firearms were with old-timers who never wore hearing protection. I've played loud rock music in tiny bars, basements, and stages for years. I began to notice hearing damage and a bit of tinnitus as I was getting out of college. It makes it very hard to carry on a conversation in a crowded room, and I'm very much a social animal. Sleeping with a fan is easy enough, but I'm not yet even 30, so it's all down hill from here.

Get a set of good ear plugs, I have some that came with a nice little metal container that I keep on my key ring. Keep them with you. I can't sing with them in, so music will still be hurting me, but for power tools, shooting, other people's concerts, or anything that I notice is getting a little loud, I'm wearing plugs at a minimum. I'd advise anyone who can to do the same.
 
I shot handguns, shotguns, and rifles without hearing protection when I was young and uninformed. Serious hearing loss did not show up until 50 years later. As others have noted, chainsaws, motorcycles, riding mowers, jack hammers, rock concerts etc. will all contribute to hearing loss.

As to research on the effects of .45 ACP, the school of hard knocks has much work in that area. I recommend the OP do his own research and get a hearing test from a qualified audiologist.
 
I've always worn ear protection while shooting. Heck in the last few years I wear it while I cut my lawn.

However, one day I was out shooting a 4.5" barrel 45 ACP in the woods, and I thought I heard a vehicle approaching. Not wanting to create an unsafe situation, I stopped shooting and pulled one of my plugs to listen. No vehicle. So I took aim and fired.

It only took one for me to realize what I had done. I had a bit of ringing immediately. It subsided after about 2 minutes. I was lucky I wasn't shooting fast.

Avoid distractions on the firing line. They create safety issues of all different kinds.
 
il_10 said:
...Get a set of good ear plugs, I have some that came with a nice little metal container that I keep on my key ring. Keep them with you. I can't sing with them in, so music will still be hurting me, but for power tools, shooting, other people's concerts, or anything that I notice is getting a little loud, I'm wearing plugs at a minimum. I'd advise anyone who can to do the same.
Click to expand...

That's very good advice. I do the same thing and I'm amazed at how often I use them -- pre-game music at ball games, mowing lawn, using chainsaw or other power tools, etc.
 
I shot a Dakota in .45 once w/o ear pro. My ears rang for 3 days and just touching my ear made me feel like a plastic bag was being rattled near my ear.

It's not fun and disables communication as well as sleep. I hope you recover well.
 
Coyote3855 said:
As others have noted, chainsaws, motorcycles, riding mowers, jack hammers, rock concerts etc. will all contribute to hearing loss.
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And I wear ear muffs for all of those now. Wish I had before. Rock & Roll, loud machinery, gunfire, all took their toll. Even after I was educated to wear ear protection while shooting, I did not for the machine room at work, using chainsaws, and listened to music too loud etc. It all added up.
 
I heard the 8K, nothing else. I blame it on my little laptop speakers. They are small, and not very loud.....:(

My wife heard the next one, dang it, and I was hoping there wasn't anything there, and they were just fooling. :mad:
 
I've actually been in movie theaters where I've thought about asking them to turn the volume down.

Good sound, and loud sound are not the same thing.
 
I got 12k, so my ears are only 20 years older than they should be!

I should mention that I've had pretty good luck with supplemental Zinc for reducing tinnitus, YMMV.
 
I decided to redirect my reply to this thread, since it seems to be more applicable here.
strambo said:
Hearing? Don't know, what is the avg decibel level of a 16" AR vs. an 18.5" 12GA? Seems close enough not to matter.

Here's a source: http://www.caohc.org/UserFiles/file/Shot of Prevention extra handout.pdf

Colt AR15 158.9 dB, Rem 870 12 GA 155.2-159.7 dB. G-17 163 dB
Click to expand...
Interesting that even a .22 lr produces jet engine-caliber noise... definitely points out the flawed thinking of those who don't use hearing protection when shooting it because "it's just .22".
 
A few years ago I took a Gunfighting course that including shooting from inside and outside of my car. We were shooting at Bad Bob who only goes down with a center to the mass shot. We shot out the drivers side window, around the drivers side front pillar and out of the passenger window. There were 10 of us in a line to drive up to the shooting position. After round two it was time for shooting thru the passenger window. I used electronic hearing protectors. I rolled up to the spot, lowered the passenger and driver window (where the trainer was). I did not have my ears on. I had removed them to air out my ears as it was a hot day with AC in the car. He called "Fight", I drew and ran 4 rounds of 9MM +P+ Ranger T thru the open window and down went Bob and up went the ringing in my ears. Strangely there was no reactive issue shooting as I did what was expected. It was only after shooting that I had the results of no hearing protection. Ringing in the ears for a good 3 hours.
 
I double up all the time now, even outdoors. Have done so for many years. Tinnitus is a constant companion and he sucks. I'm doing my utmost to save what I have left, at 61, but wish desperately I had taken more time to do so when young, with loud toys and such.
 
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