Going deaf...opinions, experiences

[Milan]

So...I have had tinnitus for years and it got slightly worse few years ago. I went for check up and figured all the years shooting with occasional hunt (no ear protection then) maybe did some damage. Exam revealed no damage and very good hearing (yes I could still hear pin being dropped so to speak). That was 4 years ago. Last week I went bird hunting the first time and used 12 ga pump. I have had one years ago and shot it a lot and while I never warmed up to shotguns and find 12 ga noise offensive in general, I always like bigger boomers over small calibers, so never thought it worse than say .338 WM or 375 H&H. I thought a .458 lot or 416 Rigby were much worse noise-wise. Well I only got 3 shots off on birds and went home with damaged hearing. My right ear feels clogged (it's not) and the ringing is now constant and so bad, I hear it over other daily noises, including music and road noise of driving a soft-topped jeep with mud tires at highway speeds. And mainly I do not hear weaker noises on that side as well as with my left ear. It has been driving me mad since. Especially because the hunting season just started and I do not want to take another shot until I have had another test/exam.

Anybody with similar experience...diagnosis, treatment, did you get better, is there hope?

I barely tolerate my eyesight getting worse but was really happy I had good hearing. Now this.

Thanks, for taking the time to read and answer.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Touched off a .300RUM with a muzzle brake on it once. It was out in the open, not at the range. So nothing to reflect noise energy back at me. I didn't have ear protection on. That literally hurt my ears, particularly my left. Had symptoms like yours, but not to that extent. It went away mostly in a day or so. But I still have a constant low level ping in my left ear.

 

[Milan]

I "liked" your post...more as a thank you for posting than liking what has happened. Mine has been a week now and no change. As a matter of fact things got worse on day 2 or 3 but now it is just constant.

 

[Von S.]

Milan,

Never under any circumstance ever shoot a Ruger ,30 carbine singe action revolver.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I "liked" your post...more as a thank you for posting than liking what has happened. Mine has been a week now and no change. As a matter of fact things got worse on day 2 or 3 but now it is just constant.

Understood. I'd say you need to go see that doctor as soon as you can, best wishes with it.

 

[Milan]

Have been to family doctor already. He recommended hearing test/diagnosis first and then probably a trip to specialist after.

 

[Milan]

Milan,

Never under any circumstance ever shoot a Ruger ,30 carbine singe action revolver.

Seems like from now on, it may be more calibers and guns I will have to avoid. And wear ear protection all the time.

 

[jacques smith]

If my wife had a quarter for every time I say WHAT she could buy a new Bentley. But u t too young—

 

[jacques smith]

Crap , now I can’t type either— gonna say get an exam

 

[Milan]

If my wife had a quarter for every time I say WHAT she could buy a new Bentley. But u t too young—

Maybe not young. But not old either. If I were over 70 or 8- started going deaf, I could say: "Oh well, getting old..." but this truly sucks

 

[edward]

all i can say is i know where your coming from.im 79 and dont like it.

 

[Nyati]

After 50 years of shooting all type of guns in competition and hunting, I have developed hearing loss. No tinnitus fortunately.

This has happened even while wearing hearing protection, at least on the range. The cause is that even if you wear the best hearing protection, some calibers are still going to hurt your ears, and that loss cannot be regained.

There is only one thing you can do to prevent worsening your condition, that is to lower your exposure to noise. Shoot only mild calibers, good hearing protection, (muffs+plugs), or use supressors if possible.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

I've got tinnitus as well. The first shot I made in SA in 2014 caused the same symptoms. I wore one plug only that time and the unprotected ear was muffled a few days, with similar pressure sensation. That went away, but the ringing has been persistent at least since 2004. Sometimes you can reduce it by popping your ears, not unlike on a flight.

Typically, just foam plugs or the Surefire plugs work great for me. Ringing doesn't worsen, and with daily commotion I don't hear it. Concerts and bars I always take plugs. Don't care what people think about it, the physical pain from those sounds is worse than their opinion.

Hearing loss though, it's permanent and cumulative. Wearing ear pro from here forward will help, as you likely know.

I'm going for an annual audio exam just tomorrow. It always says normal hearing, no high frequency loss.

 

[Milan]

Crap I knew prognosis was not good. I hope that the sensation of plugged ear goes away and the ringing subsides at least a little. I guess I will find out in few days how big the damage is. Thanks for at least commiserating.

 

[Von S.]

Most stuff isn't worth hearing anyway.

 

[Milan]

LOL. Very true. Sounds like I have heard it all before.

 

[KSWildcat]

I'm surprised most of you seem to have survived so long without noticeable hearing problems.

I'm in my early thirties and I have constant ringing in my off hand ear. I grew up on a farm and I think that's where it started. After a few hours on a lawnmower with no plugs, I would sometimes get the plugged ear feeling and muffled hearing. I also spent more than thirty minute periods in close proximity to loud machinery, tractors at full rpm, etc. Didn't know any better then, but should have. My dad wears hearing aids in his 60s. I also never used to wear plugs when shooting, but there were a couple of times where the shot was truly painful, once with a 45 colt revolver, another with a .223 with an integrated break.

Now I wear plugs anytime I have a firearm, even hunting. The least I will do is wear one plug is the off ear. I haven't taken a hearing test since grade school, and I can hear quiet noises, but I also ask my wife "what" a lot. Trying to hear two things at once, or talk on the phone with background noise are my nemesis'.

Hearing loss is not about toughness, it's going to happen. I am a true believer in wearing plugs for shooting. I don't do it enough when working with loud equipment.

 

[nztimb]

I can hear quiet noises, but I also ask my wife "what" a lot. Trying to hear two things at once, or talk on the phone with background noise are my nemesis'.

That cuuld have been me typing that athough I would have added that in a gathering of people where there is the hum of conversation then I cant concentrate on the particular voice of someone trying to talk to me so these occasions are a mute time.
The worst thing for me though is that if I am listening to something (maybe the tv) and my wife speakes to me it seems to takes quite a few seconds for my hearing to change the concentration from one source of sound to the other and always results in having to ask for a repeat

 

[Nkawu]

I'm nearly 30 and have permanent ringing in my ear. My doctor recommended these small electronic plugs with different settings for the range and for hunting. I can't hear high frequency sounds in that ear and I do find myself struggling in very crowded areas and late at night with the ringing. Never used ear plugs for much for anything growing up on a farm.

 

[PeteG]

This all sounds familiar... or well it reads familiar!

Responding to the original post, once the tinnitus is present, I dont think it will ever subside. Occasional shooting or loud noise may make it temporarily worse and then return to "normal" but it will never get better.

My wife was complaining about the ceiling fan in the room at the lake, I couldn't hear it until i turned over!
I then explained to her that the tinnitus is louder in my left ear than the squeaks of the fan...
Needless to say, as a doctor, she shouted at me... which was good, as I could then hear what she was saying!