My gun related purchase for today.............

[e rex]

Was a hearing aid. Thank goodness I only have one ear that works so the cost was reduced by half.
Would have lots rather bought a new shotgun but at least I can hear now! I'm hearing noises that I never knew existed and my old 1999 chevy pickup that was super tight and quiet...........isn't.

 

[trackskippy]

LOL. I know the feeling, I have two.

You really dont know what you're missing either until someone shows you the light. I knew mine were pretty bad, but didn't think they were as bad as they were (more than half gone in each). Too many years of unprotected loud concussive noise, heavy equipment, etc, take their toll.

 

[AMraider]

When I first got my hearing aids I was leaving my Audiologist's office and I thought someone was following me...turns out it was my shoes squeaking on the floor. Later that evening I heard crickets for the first time in years. They are expensive but well worth it.

 

[jag1954]

LOL. I know the feeling, I have two.

You really dont know what you're missing either until someone shows you the light. I knew mine were pretty bad, but didn't think they were as bad as they were (more than half gone in each). Too many years of unprotected loud concussive noise, heavy equipment, etc, take their toll.

Yep, same here....

 

[horsemen61]

I’m sorry you gents had to go through that I’m glad it helps you yet another reason I’m trying to get everything I own within reason suppressed!

 

[Riomouse911]

Glad to see you are able to hear things again! It’s got to be frustrating to lose so much of your hearing that half of your world is missing, getting that back must be wonderful.

My right ear was damaged by an infection I got in high school, then I perforated it two or three times crashing when I was wakeboarding back in the 1990’s. Now all I hear from that ear is high pitch, I can hardly hear any bass/low range . My left ear is much better, it has just a bit if tinnitus (Thank the Lord!). That is probably from hunting doves and quail as a kid, I did that unprotected for several years .

For the past 30+ years I have religiously double plug/muffed every time I shoot, wear plugs or muffs when I’m working with tools, etc. as I don’t want to lose anymore hearing. Of course I live in Ca, so the dream of even seeing a silencer, much less owning one, is zero.

Again, congrats!!

Stay safe.

 

[trackskippy]

I’m sorry you gents had to go through that I’m glad it helps you yet another reason I’m trying to get everything I own within reason suppressed!

Suppressors are great for those quick rounds you're not ready for or expecting, but you really still need to wear hearing protection while using one for any kind of volume type shooting.

I have and use a couple, and depending on where I am and what Im shooting, I can get by for a couple of rounds without too much discomfort or noticeable loss, but if I shoot a lot, say 50 rounds or more of something like 5.56, then my ears get dull and ache a good bit for a while after. Even with the suppressor, I normally wear my plugs when I know Im going to be shooting a lot.

Shooting is really only one small part of this too. Work is a big problem for a lot of people, and its a day long issue, all day, every day. If you think a gunshot is loud, stand next to a dump truck slamming its tailgate to clear the bed. Its even more fun if you arent ready for it.

AMraiders comment on the crickets struck home for me. I never really noticed I was missing the bugs, frogs, birds, etc until I got the hearing aids. Its amazing the difference in how quiet things really are, once you turn them off. Not that that's a bad thing sometimes.

 

[Speedo66]

In addition to guns, I've been motorcycle riding for the last 57 years. No, it's not loud pipes, but the wind rushing by your ears at 70+ MPH.

I now wear earplugs when I ride, but it's too late.

OP: Glad the hearing aids were able to help you.

 

[lightman]

A tube of blue Loctite for scope mounting!!!

 

[Pew-Pew]

My ears were ringing a tad bit for the 1st time ever last time @ the range. Should I be worried now?

 

[trackskippy]

You should always be worried.

Whether you can always do something about it, can be problematical, but if you pay attention and try and address it, you're going to be better off down the road.

Keep in mind too, not all hearing protection is equal, but something is always better than nothing.

 

[bullseye308]

Do hearing aids help with tinnitus? Mine is getting almost intolerable.

 

[trackskippy]

Do hearing aids help with tinnitus? Mine is getting almost intolerable.

Mine have, and reduced it considerably.

 

[AMraider]

Mine does. It is a waves like sound. It works surprisingly well.

 

[.455_Hunter]

Seven years of snare in high school and college marching band drumline probably started me down the road.

 

[Show Me]

When I first got my hearing aids I was leaving my Audiologist's office and I thought someone was following me...turns out it was my shoes squeaking on the floor. Later that evening I heard crickets for the first time in years. They are expensive but well worth it.

I hear crickets in the winter

 

[Armored farmer]

I started shooting competition at a young age, but that wasn't what hurt my hearing. I always wore good hearing protection while shooting. It was the hours of diesel engines topped off with loud radios.

 

[Pew-Pew]

You should always be worried.

Whether you can always do something about it, can be problematical, but if you pay attention and try and address it, you're going to be better off down the road.

Keep in mind too, not all hearing protection is equal, but something is always better than nothing.

Been using the same type of plugs forever. Never a problem. I don't double up with muffs b/c I can't get a good cheek weld with them

 

[trackskippy]

Been using the same type of plugs forever. Never a problem. I don't double up with muffs b/c I can't get a good cheek weld with them

Same here. I mostly use the rubber "finned" type plugs that have a 33 rating to shoot with, I also have a pocket full of the foam type with the same rating for that or anything else I feel the need for.

I cant shoot long guns with the muffs for the same reason, and they just bug me anyway. Most dont have a very high rating either.