Shortly after I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, I have always believed the two are related but “science” disagrees with me. Now I have hearing aids, and am very focused on saving whatever hearing I have left…”youth is wasted on the young”
Or it could be too many Who, AC/DC, and Rolling Stones concerts as a youth- speaking of
Sig It’s a little of everything I think. As far as youth goes, “if only we new then what we know now “ as for hearing loss goes some of it wasn’t our fault. As I mentioned earlier mine got a jump start in the service. What the hell does a 18 year old green bean know about ear protection other then get some cotton and stick it in your ears.
Makes me pissed when I see these ambulance chaser attorney Tv Commercials about being given the wrong size earplugs in the military you could be eligible to be awarded money for hearing loss. What ear plugs. The first gob I had when I got out of the crotch was a iron worker/structural steel. The 2nd project I was put on as a green bean was erecting a 150 foot microwave tower on top of a 15 story building walking across 6 inch I-beams with no safety harness net or rail. The only thing they cared about was money. It was a big deal if no one was killed on a big job. We would talk about jobs and say “ oh ya that the job that 4 people got killed on. Oh well it’s hard not to ramble, the point is we didn’t know enough to protect ourselves. Be carful at the range with hearing protection especially with these damn AR short barreled guns. As a matter fact my ears are ringing right now and I feel like Quasimodo. Stay safe and its
going to get a set right now. Appreciate the link and the recommendation. My issues started in the pool, swimming competitively from age 7 until 19, lifeguarding, surfing, training lifeguards, lots and lots of snorkeling down to 50’ yadayadayada…I fell hard a few times water skiing and had water really force its way into my ear canals. According to an ear doc, my ear and sinus cavities are closed up pretty well, and he chalked that up to a lifetime of cold water immersion. Seems my right ear is way worse, and feels like there’s a flap that keeps closing, as I can manipulate the ear to hear great at times, then there’s a clicking sound and it’s back to reject status. I suppose seeing the same shows as @OldSchlPunk didn’t help as well as a few years on loud bikes and decades of chain saws, which now in retirement, and staying in CT awhile longer, has once again become a daily obsession…
Edit…transaction failed due to “no available processors”??? Guess I’ll try again…after looking around, I went to the hsastore and ordered some hearing aids through them, money taken from my hsa acct.
Mine started when I was hunting with a T/C Contender pistol with a muzzle break in my late 20’s early 30’s.
I have profound hearing loss in my right ear due to years of pheasant hunting without hearing protection.
I also noticed a large increase in permanent tinnitus after chronically taking Vioxx when it was on the market.
I just got hearing aids in January. They help.
I have had tinnitus longer than I can remember, but certainly since before my 30th birthday (I’m 63). Mine is a high-pitched whine usually at 8Mhz, though I will occasionally get a louder, low drone that lasts up to 30 seconds. My fear is that one will pick a time to stick around. I have music playing in my office when I’m not on a call, to keep the tinnitus at bay.
For me, my tinnitus is connected to my hearing loss.
I had a mild hearing loss by the time I was 21, with a significant increase in severity almost seven years ago. It occurred during target shooting at an indoor range. Full ear protection. Severe tinnitus when I exited the range that didn’t go away for days. I was left with severe hearing loss in both ears, plus a clarity problem that exacerbates the hearing loss. Interestingly, my hearing loss happened the same way my late father’s did - while shooting with hearing protection. His audiologist told him that his hearing loss was unlikely connected to the shooting event.
After hearing my family history of hearing loss on my father’s side (grandparents, father & his siblings, cousins, second cousins, one of my brothers), my audiologist agreed with that prior audiologist. I have been wearing hearing aids since I was almost 57 (younger than most of my family), and my daughter has had a hearing disability from birth.
I tried to warn people about inadequate ear protection in the gun range. Especially today when somebody is shooting an A.R. short-barreled rifle in a covered range. Was on the range yesterday and someone was shooting an A.R. With a short barrel. After the first shot I put earplugs in under my ear balls. Even with earplugs and ear balls my ears are still ringing more than normal. I don’t have a decibel meter but I’m sure if somebody took readings of the short barrel A.R. 2 23 guns the decibel readings would be off the chart. I think in going to try that none prescription pill I mentioned earlier. If we can buy bullets to save our ass maybe we should try to buy something that will help save Our hearing. I have a much bigger problem with memory loss> Long story< I just bought a beautiful outrageous house, in the ground swimming pool, just married someone 20 years Younger, got a brand new Jaguar, a new Corvette,and a collection of vintage original colt Python’s, topped Off with a ton of primers and gun powder and bullets, [ THE PROBLEM IS I FORGOT WHERE I LIVE ] what’s in your Wallet ?
I heard too late in life that by our 30s, every cell in our bodies has reproduced at least once, and we’ve lost our upper range of hearing. I acquired my tinnitus from working in operations and maintenance in the trucking business, but thankfully it’s very slight, although once in a while it flares up in a ringing sensation for a few seconds, and then fades away. If you don’t avoid or protect yourself from intense or continuous loud noise, you’re a candidate for tinnitus. Many gun writers and experts regret wearing gun muffs in the past, thinking that it was “sissified”. Regard your ears like your eyes - there’s only 1 pair to a customer. FYI
Kurt your right, I’m blind in one eye. I practice shooting blind ( eyes shut ) Very good for coordination and posture of memory. Good practice for shooting and very low light conditions. Don’t need sites. I do my best work in the dark.
oh yeah, forgot jets and dragsters in my background…I don’t care what you’re wearing for ear protection, a Harrier will scramble your brain, never mind your ears. Young guy up the road has motorized bar stool built by Tony Stewarts pit crew, quite a pro-build, complete with titanium header. I took it for a ride the other day, got me laughing the thing was such a blast, once I got used to my vision bouncing up and down and an open header under my butt. Off the gas, this thing backfires like a Mazda LeMans LMP2 car…or the fourth of July for those not into Mazda LMP2 cars 
I just looked up decibels for the Harrier. It’s 140 decibels. I also looked the attached chart.
I grew up around airports, planes and jets. They were extremely loud. Couldn’t stand it long at all. But 140 dB for a Harrier is mind blowing. Scrambled brains for sure. 
What about a short AR 223. ( like other ) ?
I lost the biggest chunk of my hearing in the 1st Gulf War and then more of it in subsequent gun fights over the next 20 years. I have 95dB loss in the right ear and 115 dB in the left. When I was on active duty the audiologist said that hearing aids couldn’t help me (and at that time he was right) Some years later the Morning disk jockey was going on about his hearing aids and how the Tinnitus almost disappeared with them. I almost drove off the road and made an appointment that day. It doesn’t take it all away but it does help a lot.
The thing I really found out was that my “natural” aversion to malls, loud restaurants and other places with lots of people wasn’t due to being around people it was due to my hearing. I didn’t stop meeting new people and being socially active because I was a loner it was because of my hearing. “I’m sorry, what?” was the biggest part of my conversation. I didn’t stop listening to new music because it sucked (well at least not totally) it was because I couldn’t hear it and the songs I knew I had memorized. Believe me, a re-mastered song will screw with your mind if it’s not the one you remember.
My advice to anyone is if the only sound you hear in a silent room is the ringing in your ears GO GET HEARING AIDS!!!
Cheers,
Craig6
@PossumSlayer1 Are the women’s screams that loud when their running away from you? 
Deafening
LOL.
@Blacky I took a look at that site silencil for tinnitus, watched the video and did some reading on the stuff, not sure what to say except wow it’s expensive one bottle on sale $69 regularly $99 for a 30 day supply and they want you to take it for 90 days before it will even start working. I think I’m going to have to pass on this stuff, kinda expensive. Thanks for the information on it. I did find this stuff online at Walmart, Lipo-Flavonoid Plus Ear Health Supplement for Tinnitus, 72 caplets for $19.96 it has a 4 
rating at other stores also. I might consider giving this a try before I put a couple hundred bucks out for the Silencil right now. Any way thanks again, have a good one. Al 
Oh, yeah. I raced for 16 years (off-road, VW powered buggies). Open header about 6" from your head didn’t help matters either. Chainsaws, yup that’ll do ya too.
Damn, I had fun but am paying for it now. Would I change a thing? Not on your life! I do recommend that others take precautions and learn from our mistakes.
Al- when I saw the add I think it was on sale - 3 bottles for ± $ 41.00. I didn’t look any further than the commercial but I will now. Have you tried any of the air supplement yet. I’ve got to get something very soon. I’ve been using earplugs and ear balls. It’s too late. It seems these nasty AR- short barreled guns cause big time hearing problems. They are crazy loud. This ringing is more now because of this AR crap. Stay in touch with the issue. Be safe .
@Blacky et all if short barreled AR’s are too loud look in to a “forcing cone” attachment such as the “Flaming Pig” by Noveske $$$$$$ or a Krinkov (sp) style muzzle can. I have a Krinkov and it reduces recoil and blasts the sound out front. They are a bit heavy (2+/- lbs IIRC) but I find it helps with the pointability of a short tubed AR. My definition of loud is subject to rumor and conjecture but it is much better than a 14.5" Phantom Brake or Sure Fire attachment.
Cheers,
Craig6
Craig- I don’t own a AR the noise problem is from other shooters. Matter of fact a kid was shouting one shooting one in our covered range and the short barrel noise was worse because he wasn’t even up to the firing line. I grabbed him by the stacking swivel and ejected him from the range.
