Posted on 07/14/2017 1:20:58 PM PDT by WKTimpco
I need help from my fellow Freepers.
An audiologist today found moderate hearing loss in the upper frequencies of my auditory system. She said my pattern is typical of high impact noises. I frequent the gun ranges, etc. Despite my proper use of hearing protection, I usually experience some temporary hearing changes after a couple of hours at the range. Today I discovered from my audiology appointment that these temporary effects are evidence of damage to my hearing, and some of that damage, however slight, has permanent consequences on my hearing, especially on the upper frequencies.
Some people shrug off the hearing loss, and that, of course, is their right. But at 51 years old, I am an "old Dad" of a six-year-old son. I want to be able to participate in many activities with my son when I'm in my 70s and 80s. Moreover hearing loss can impair brain function beyond hearing and can affect mental health in some people. If interested, you can do an Internet search on how these hearing-loss effects on brain and mind function work.***
Please advise on how you think I can minimize the decrease in my quality of life associated with giving up or restricting firearms shooting. For instance, I could take up varmint hunting with a .22 rifle, which with hearing protection definitely does not lead to hearing loss compared to shooting my 30.06. I could take up bow hunting and do more fishing, etc. I could get suppressors for the firearms that I do have.
I would appreciate any advice or experience you could share with me that might help me with my dilemma. Thanks!
(***People isolate themselves because "everyone is mumbling!," and hearing aids can only compensate so much for hearing loss once it's profound. The brain and memory of hearing impaired persons are also affected because they expend so much brain-level energy trying to compensate for not understanding people around them. My hearing loss is likely to accelerate with continued exposure to gunshot sounds now that my hearing has become compromised, according to the audiologist. Doubling up on hearing protection can only accomplish so much because gunshot sounds definitely travel through the bones of the skull. Like miles-per-gallon ratings seen at car dealerships, the NRR ratings of hearing-protection makers are definitely inflated by creative lab testing. Even muffled gunshot sounds from the big bores at close range are above the decibel threshold for potential hearing damage. At the gun range, shooters are getting the big booms from neighboring lanes as well, in addition to reverberations at certain ranges. Some individuals have a higher propensity to lose hearing from these high-impact noises than others. Finally, the type of hearing loss I've begun to experience is 100% avoidable, according to the audiologist.)
I wish I had paid attention to loud noises when I was in my teens and 20s. I experienced the whole cornucopia of hearing-destroying things: gun fire, CanAm and TransAm races, BIG rock concerts in cities, factory floors with impact machinery, power plants with steam line and gas line blows, coal pulverized, safety valve setting, unmuffled lawn mowers, exploding bicycle tires, homemade explosives (also brought a sledge hammer down on an entire roll of cap gun caps to see what would happen), loud rock on headphones, loud wood and metal shops.
As a result, I began noticing tinnitus in my 30s and it is a constant hissing / whining / shrieking noise with no let up. Ever.
Fortunately, I haven’t experienced a lot of frequency loss which is absolutely remarkable. It is unfortunate because I love listening to music and this takes away a lot of enjoyment.
After the irreversible damage was done, I started paying attention to noisy environments and protecting my hearing. But the horse had already fled the barn.
My uncle can’t hear birds anymore. Too much gunfire in his past.
WHAT?
Did a lot of shooting/plinking/hunting w/o hearing protection in my younger days - have ringing and loss of high frequency.
With an air gun you’ll save $ too.
I see that many others have provided most of the info I was going to write :-) FReepers are awesome.
When I finally admitted to myself that I was missing huge amounts of conversation, and sounding like a dummy ("What? What?"), I checked with my insurance and was fortunate to be able to spring for some high-end digital (DSP) programmable hearing aids (Oticon Alsa 2) which have saved my marriage and my job. That is no exaggeration. Seriously, what is that worth?
Tell everyone around you -- especially young folks -- that hearing has to be protected around loud noises. I was told when I was a kid but I didn't listen because I wanted to play loud rock-n-roll. Oh well, live and learn; thank God for digital hearing aids. Don't bother with the cheap ones. I tried them, I tried the "amplifiers", all that. They're cr@p compared to real hearing aids.
Good luck and God Bless.
I’m curious if there was ever a time when you shot without hearing protection?
Such things weren’t much of a concern when I was young, and I hunted a fair amount with both 12 gauge and .22 without hearing protection. That, plus loud music later has left me with significant tinnitus, although thankfully I still hear OK. I do need to get to an audiologist for some formal testing one of these days. I still hunt and shoot, but always with hearing protection.
I’m in a similar situation as yourself with a young son - I’m in my 50s...
On the way to THE ONE Grand Show...
Highly recommend seeing. :)
Have your Audiologist prescribe a suppressor, AND get your insurance company to pay for it. THAT ought to get insurance companies to lobby for the Hearing Protection Act.
“I’m curious if there was ever a time when you shot without hearing protection?”
I had a .25 pistol in my early 20s and very occasionally went without protection for a round or two. I also went to a very few rock concerts in my 20s where I left with ringing in my ears. I always told my friends that I didn’t understand the enjoyment of EXTREMELY loud, painful rock-concert music... can’t hear the notes... just loud noise. So I mostly avoided those concerts.
I never listened... are you ready for this... to my Sony Walkman turned up high like my step-brother did. Never understood that either. I probably did spend too many hours in a blues club of one sort or another with the loud music, but not as loud as those ridiculous concerts.
Later, when I bought some guns again, I always used protection. I knew that ringing in the ears meant damage. I didn’t always double up, but I knew the plugs had to be compressed, ear pulled back, plug deep in the ear and wait for decompression in the ear.
When I was a kid I used to play around with fire crackers, and a few times the fuse was so quick I could barely throw the cracker away without burning my hand, nevermind plugging the ears.
But none of the mortar fire or warfare or years of heavy machinery operation that other people are talking about. Bottom line: it looks like I’m susceptible to hearing loss. I’m not going to stop with the firearms just yet. I’m doing a lot of research now on custom fitted plugs made by an audiologist combined with the really good muffs and then going back in a year to see if any more deterioration occurred.
Worst case scenario: I go predator or varmint hunting with a .22 WMR rifle and learn to use a bow for harvesting deer. Might be more sporting way in any case. I’ve also been meaning to do more fishing anyway. Thanks.
Db pressure to Caliber...
Thanks
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