Hearing loss and ringing

[silverdoctor]

Get your ears checked as soon as you can.

I grew up hunting, fired everything and didn't know what heading protection was. When did firearms get so loud and percussive? Last time I was out, one of the guys starting shooting off his M1 without warning. Ears rang for days .

[Rod1960]

Had it for almost 12 years now, the result of a sinus/ear infection that got out of hand. Some days are better than others but it's always there.

[mich]

Originally Posted by Rod1960

Had it for almost 12 years now, the result of a sinus/ear infection that got out of hand. Some days are better than others but it's always there.

That seems how mine started as well but stress seems to play the worst. It seems to come and go now with my stress levels

[elkhunter11]

Permanent damage can occur over time, or it can occur from a single incident. A person that both the Cat and I know, suffered this type of damage to his hearing from firing one single shot with a braked rifle without hearing protection. I have been fortunate, in that although I have had experienced slight ringing in my ears when another person shot over me on a goose hunt, my hearing is still normal for my age, and I have not experienced any ringing in my ears since.

[Sashi]

No real problem as long as the ringing in your ears is not bothering the people around you.
I have been partially deaf for the past 40 years due to muzzle blasts, It is no fun that's for sure.

[Wiz]

By the way, I went to my family doctor on Friday afternoon. He didn't seem to know what was wrong and is sending me to have my hearing checked by an audiologist. Is this a good start? Should I request a rush to an ENT? What about these steroid drops I have been reading about?

[Pokee]

Originally Posted by Talking moose

Same thing happened to me...... 25 years ago.... Google tinnitus.

Same here....ringing in my ears 25 yrs later!

[huntsfurfish]

At least the ringing in my ears drowns out the voices in my head.












Have had tinnitus for at least 20-25 years.

[Mayhem]

Had if for many years myself and have just gotten used to it...Now would somebody please answer that damn phone!

[HunterDave]

I'm curious if anyone on here has a different sound than ringing. I think that ringing is the most common noise but I've read that tinnitus can involve a swooshing sound or something similar to waves hitting the shore. I have a constant ringing in both ears but with other people, not only is the sound different, but it can be sporadic and/or in one or both ears.

Does anyone use a noise masking device to help them sleep and does it work?

[amosfella]

I've had ringing in my ears for about 25 years... Recently, I found a product called Ear Tone in Nutters. It's to help Tinnitus. After almost 2 months of taking it, it's less noticeable, but it's still there. The first month, I didn't notice any difference. The second month of taking it, it got less. I'm planning on taking it for another month, then giving it a 6 month break to see what happens...

[hoehne]

Had it for 20 years was told due to shooting too many high powered rifles. Three audiologists have suggested hearing aids, two ENT MD's said don't bother and live with it. Noticed use of alcohol makes it worse.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by amosfella

I've had ringing in my ears for about 25 years... Recently, I found a product called Ear Tone in Nutters. It's to help Tinnitus. After almost 2 months of taking it, it's less noticeable, but it's still there. The first month, I didn't notice any difference. The second month of taking it, it got less. I'm planning on taking it for another month, then giving it a 6 month break to see what happens...

This is a drug, I take it?

[score]

Originally Posted by Wiz

By the way, I went to my family doctor on Friday afternoon. He didn't seem to know what was wrong and is sending me to have my hearing checked by an audiologist. Is this a good start? Should I request a rush to an ENT? What about these steroid drops I have been reading about?

Yeah I think you should get an appt. with an ENT specialist. Do it all to check it out. No ear drops or anything else has helped me. I've just learned to deal with it over time. Like I said before, I have an appt. with a neurologist next. Who knows?

[score]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

I'm curious if anyone on here has a different sound than ringing. I think that ringing is the most common noise but I've read that tinnitus can involve a swooshing sound or something similar to waves hitting the shore. I have a constant ringing in both ears but with other people, not only is the sound different, but it can be sporadic and/or in one or both ears.

Does anyone use a noise masking device to help them sleep and does it work?

Yeah mine changes pitch, loudness, etc.. Pressing on my skull will make different sounds. I can hear what sounds like the beating of my heart most of the time. It's not like it's a 'steady' ringing. It's more like head noise rather than ringing in the ears. Also like I said, I don't seem to have any hearing loss and think I can still hear very well. Having the hearing tests anyway as suggested by my ENT guy.

[MHW]

Ringing for about 15 yrs., and about 2 yrs. ago ocean roar added in.
Worked on a large grain farm as a teenager - spent most days on farm tractors with no ear protection. A lot of research is being done for this malady.
Livable as long as I don't think about it.

[dmac]

About 6 years ago took a blast from a left handed shooter using a right handed 300 win mag in the left ear.

Those damn kids keep ringing the bell and when I get to the door no one is there.

[amosfella]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

This is a drug, I take it?

Nope. Herbal supplement.

[PartTimeHunter]

Originally Posted by HunterDave

I'm curious if anyone on here has a different sound than ringing. I think that ringing is the most common noise but I've read that tinnitus can involve a swooshing sound or something similar to waves hitting the shore. I have a constant ringing in both ears but with other people, not only is the sound different, but it can be sporadic and/or in one or both ears.

Does anyone use a noise masking device to help them sleep and does it work?

Mine mostly sounds like the "white noise" that used to play on the tv (many years ago) when their broadcast day was over and is in both ears. But I do get other ringing and it will all vary in volume, pitch, pattern and intensity. I do have some hearing loss as well. Some people just don't talk loud enough to be heard over the ringing, or they talk while looking in another direction or while there is another source of noise present.

Don't know what those masking devices are like. When I went for testing they showed me them as an option but I already have non stop noise in my head - I didn't want to add to it.

[Battle Rat]

Unfortunately a visit to the doctor will not help at this stage.
There is nothing he/she can do to reverse the damage done.
If you have ringing in your ears, tinnitus, the damage is already done and there is no cure.
The best you can do now is wear hearing protection to prevent any future damage.
Lawnmowers , chain saws, grinders as well as gunfire will cause damage to your hearing.
Even 22 semi autos are above the threshold of noise limit damage of 73 Db.
Buy some electronic muffs and limit your exposure to gun shots as much as possible.

[xxclaro]

I've had it in my left ear for a few years now, result of an indoor unexpected discharge! Mine is just a constant high pitched whine, intensity changes depending on stress or other factors. I use a small fan in the bedroom at night to help drown it out. If I don't think about it I sometimes don't even notice it for some time. Of course, a thread like this pops up and it just starts screaming! Hearing tests indicate significant loss in the higher pitches. Don't expect its going to get better.

[jtiwana]

In a different life, if I remember the year correctly it was 1997. Our unit had an excess of RL (Carl Gustav 64mm Rocket Launcher) ammo lying around which could not be expended in training due to non availability of range (different story for some other time). I was officer in charge. That day from morning till sunset I personally fired 67 rounds. Being young and foolish we never used any hearing protection. I was practically deaf for 4-5 days.

Slowly came back to normal. I am not sure about OP, it might be fine after a few days.

Or other thing I can think of is that some thick wax got loose. Pour some oil in ear and wait for a day. Go to your family doc and get it flushed out, they use a special nozzle.

[Lefty]

Originally Posted by PartTimeHunter

Mine mostly sounds like the "white noise" that used to play on the tv (many years ago) when their broadcast day was over and is in both ears. But I do get other ringing and it will all vary in volume, pitch, pattern and intensity. I do have some hearing loss as well. Some people just don't talk loud enough to be heard over the ringing, or they talk while looking in another direction or while there is another source of noise present.

Don't know what those masking devices are like. When I went for testing they showed me them as an option but I already have non stop noise in my head - I didn't want to add to it.

That noise the tv made is what I hear. The volume of it varies. Hearing aids only help when there are sounds for them to pick up that are loud enough to drown out whatever volume the ringing is at. I sometimes use an air purifier that is kind of noisy to sleep at night. It is a different sound that is more relaxing than the ringing. If I avoid caffeine then the volume stays pretty quiet and not noticeable until things around me are perfectly quiet. Loud noises also get the ringing to start up and be loud for me. I wear ear plugs and muffs when shooting.

[iluvguns]

Good to read some of the humorous replies and it is true in almost all cases of ringing in the ears nothing can be done. I have about 40 years experience and unfortunately getting deaf doesn't remedy the problem. I will soon have to admit I need help and get a hearing aid and I'm told that a tone can be programed into them that will counter the frequency of the ring and sort of mask the sound so I won't hear it. I guess before long I will find out$$$

[cranky]

Anyone needing hearing aids. I highly recommend Costco. Mine cost less than half what i would have paid for them at a regular hearing place. Warrantee is better too.
Worth looking into. Even my Doc. gets his there. They have there own audiologists and theres no push to buy after the exam.

[mrcrossbow]

same thing with me. i was about 7 or 8 and had those caps for cap guns , well i had the bright idea to smash about 30 full rolls of them at once with a mini sledge and the ringing in my ears never stoped till about five yrs ago when i had all my teeth removed. not sure why it stoped but after 25 yrs or so of the ringing it was amazeing to not have it, doctor had no idea ether he just said be thankfull,

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by jtiwana

In a different life, if I remember the year correctly it was 1997. Our unit had an excess of RL (Carl Gustav 64mm Rocket Launcher) ammo lying around which could not be expended in training due to non availability of range (different story for some other time). I was officer in charge. That day from morning till sunset I personally fired 67 rounds. Being young and foolish we never used any hearing protection. I was practically deaf for 4-5 days.

I would have been all over that if I was given the opportunity......it'd be a BLAST!

What immediately comes to mind is, I wonder how the deep boom of a Carl G would compare to the higher pitched sound of rifle fire? Neither one would be any good for your hearing but I wonder if it would damage your hearing at different frequencies. That might explain why all of that rocket fire didn't cause permanent hearing damage. Interesting.

[Etownguy]

My Dad has this.

He went to an audiologist? and they fitted him with a hearing aid device that 'masks' the sound of the tinnitus. Not perfect, and didn't fix the underlying problem, but it gave him a fair amount of relief.

[bat119]

Originally Posted by mrcrossbow

same thing with me. i was about 7 or 8 and had those caps for cap guns , well i had the bright idea to smash about 30 full rolls of them at once with a mini sledge and the ringing in my ears never stoped till about five yrs ago when i had all my teeth removed. not sure why it stoped but after 25 yrs or so of the ringing it was amazeing to not have it, doctor had no idea ether he just said be thankfull,

I dropped a large rock on two full boxes of caps once don't remember the bang but it broke the rock in half. Kids had better toys back then

Sorry didn't mean to derail thread just drifted off for a moment