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Shooting and tinitus

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What thusfar has escaped the discussion to help the OP is, suggest getting a qualified hearing examination? Lots of times these are free, they figure ever so many exams will equal hearing aids. For example Sam's Club has them free and most time no appointment.
The whiney pitch you're hearing isn't the wife :rofl: this time. Usually it's a hearing loss in the higher frequencies. You brain does you a ''favor'' by filling in that part of the sheet music with a steady tone, of that frequency range.
In any event, get a hearing exam and make sure it's limited to JUST tinnitus. The audiologist giving you the exam will most likely be papered with a Masters Degree. It's that big of a deal; it's more the reason I strongly suggest getting the exam. Tinnitus is not the end all - be all, there are treatments for it including medicines and sound retraining as well as suggestions in case of another loud sound / damage event such as, immediately seeking steroidal treatment. You audiologist should cover most of this. Good luck!
 
In addition to the suggestion to see an audiologist or ENT physician, make sure you know how to correctly insert/use earplugs. Many, many shooters - probably most - put in earplugs in a way that dramatically reduces their effectiveness. Here's a video on the topic from one of the manufacturers:
 
"Nothing to do with shooting??!!"

That's a bunch of BS for sure. I sighted in my 300 Win Mag without ear protection. Young and dumb 46 years ago.
I was 17 years old. I developed severe Tinnitus in both ears (first the left, then 4 months later the right) before I graduated high school.
 
I have tinnitus in my left ear and occasionally in the right and it is a loss in the higher frequencies with a sudden onset. In my case, it is related to an autoimmune issue that flares. For some, tinnitus can also be from a diet issue or from working around heavy machinery/noisy environment on a longterm basis. And yes, it can happen from shooting damage. In my case, I have always used both plugs and Mickey Mouse ears and have always used hearing protection.
 
Darn it, I just had to read this thread. I've had tinnitus for long I don't even notice it anymore except when I think about it. Now I'm hearing the bacon frying in my ears but it will go away as soon as I find something else to occupy my mind.

Shooting before anyone payed much attention to noise damage to your hearing is a big part of what caused mine but other occupational noise makers has to take some of the blame also.
 
I too have the dreaded ringing. Mine has slowly gotten worse. I constantly carry plugs with me for the times there is sounds that irritate it. Such as some music at church,grand children that love to scream. I have found I only need the plugs at the range. As long as i have them in the shooting isn't a problem. I don't think there is a cure .
 
Aspirin and caffeine seems to make the Tinnitus worse. I like shooting and coffee so it can get worse. Once in awhile the Tinnitus ringing will almost disappear for a day or so. I miss the ringing so much I can not sleep.:D
 
Mine's gotten extremely bad over the past few years- but I've used hearing protection since my mid-20s. Prior to that...thousands of rounds of 22s, occ rifle and shotgun blasts while hunting, concerts, and 120mm cannons all took their toll but didn't manifest until decades later. Regret not wearing hearing protection sooner. I double up now. Plugs and muffs.

The worst time is when everything's quiet, even the baseline high pitch ringing....then a superimposed 'AAAWHEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeee'. I miss the quiet.
 
Wow- what did you say? My hearing is so bad that I have to turn my good ear to the monitor!
My tinnatus started about 25 years ago.
I always shot with earmuffs, but on occasion I forgot to pull them down and was struck with a deafening blast.
I now have electronic muffs, plugs, and my standby earmuffs not just for me but for my range guests.
God knows what caused it. I have been successfully able to IGNORE it. Otherwise it could make me go crazy.
I have accidently blasted myself with my 50BMG and the results were exactly as bad as with a 22 pistol I used to shoot.
Ringing in the ears after shooting without protection is dangerous and the results may never go away.
 
I'm curious to know if anyone else has tried shooting with tinnitus, and what the results were.
Click to expand...

I developed tinnitus from unprotected exposure to gunfire when I was in my earlu 20's. Since its onset, I have always used hearing protection (plugs or muffs) and it has gotten no worse.
 
Nicotine also enhances tinnitis. I have had tinnitis for 20 years. It used to sound like a waterfall and then went to ringing about 10 years ago. I am very protective of my hearing and have been for quite a few years but the damage is done.
 
Too many years shooting .50 cal MGs, M14s and M16s without hearing protection. I have it constantly but always use plugs and muffs now.

Here's an interesting site that will allow you to test your hearing:
 
There is an old joke about shooters and hearing aids. Two old deaf shooters met at the range one morning and one told the other "I just got hearing aids and now I can hear everything again." The other guy asked "What kind are they?" The first looked at his watch and said "It's 10:30." Protect your hearing, it only gets worse with age.
 
I went to the doctor because I was concerned that a cholesterol medicine I was on was causing permanent hearing loss and hence the perceived distorted ringing (many of those drugs are associated with some risk for hearing loss, which can be permanent, although it isn't common and is still not well understood.) For me, it turned out it was wax blocking my ear canal, and once the wax was removed the ring was pretty much completely gone (ironically, my doctor also told me that incorrect ear wax removal can cause tinnitus). When indoors, I wear EP5 plugs and muffs. When outdoors, I usually just use plugs. And while the causes vary so much limiting the usefulness of this, FWIW it's not gotten worse for me since.

It seems that long-term use of foam earplugs can lead to earwax buildup (and increase the chance of 'earwax plugs'), and this could cause tinnitus or make existing tinnitus worse. If shooting does make tinnitus worse, this might make it harder to determine whether the louder noises of the firearm or the hearing protection itself is what is related?
 
I've worn hearing aids in both ears since the early '90s due to the affliction. Back around '78, my partner and I got ambushed behind the Police Station and my partner shot several rounds just past my left ear, the ringing never stopped. However because of the adrenalin flowing never realized it till after the shooting subsided. Naturally I kept up my love of shooting but have always worn some form of ear protection. My new hearing aids actually stop the noise of gunfire, but besides those I use the electronic muffs to stifle them even more. Granted as I age, my hearing has deteriorated to the point it is hard to hear what my little grandkids are saying, which is definitely not a blessing.
 
I have had it for the last 20 years or so....There is no cure....
I drove Ms. gamboolgal crazy when it was first coming on...I would ask her if she heard that "noise"......
Shooting, oilfield damaged my hearing
I advise all young men I supervise to protect their hearing
There is no cure
 
A very high percentage of Veteran's have both tinnitus and hearing loss. I received my fair share of both. My tinnitus waxes and wanes but it's always there. There are times it's extremely loud. I have VA issued hearing aids that are quite good dealing with my hearing loss. My problem is that they are receiver in the canal and have electronics in a case behind the ear. I sweat easily and freely. I can corrode the wiring in them in less than a week. I really need to talk to an audiologist about seeing if I can get something that works better for me.

Years ago I was in a study involving tinnitus and Veterans. At the time I received hearing aids with built in noise maskers. I still have those and use them occasionally when I'm resting at home and the tinnitus ramps up to 11.

There's no cure. There are multiple causes.
 
I have severe Tinnitus it started back in the 50's when the U. S. Army never heard
of ear protection. I have been shooting ever since. It doesn't seem to hurt my scores.

Zeke
 
Tinnitus and hearing loss can be two separate issues. You can suffer from one without having the other, but many times you'll have both. It can affect different frequency ranges within the audible "spectrum". Like mentioned above, getting an audiologic exam (hearing test) and a medical evaluation to determine the cause is important. Some types of tinnitus and/or hearing loss can be treated, others cannot. I have hearing loss above 6000 Hz, which is upper midrange where a good bit of voice is, and severe tinnitus, which to me is a high-pitched sound like you hear from old-style TV sets, but much louder to me. I do okay when conversation is isolated, but find it very difficult to hear what's being said in places like restaurants or parties, when there is much ambient "clutter". Too many unprotected years using a chainsaw, inadequate protection when shooting, and close exposure to jet engines (former USAF aircrew). It's cumulative, and continued unprotected exposure only makes it worse. I double up on protection now, I wear plugs and 'Mickey' ears.

I wouldn't stop shooting just because my ears started ringing, though. Investigate and invest in high-quality protection and keep banging.
 
bangswitch said:
but find it very difficult to hear what's being said in places like restaurants or parties, when there is much ambient "clutter".
Click to expand...
yeah this is where I suffer to most, the ringing is only noticeable when things get quite so I fall asleep with a tv on low and set the sleep timer.
 
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