Are your ears ringing?

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Oct 26, 2005 | 03:24 PM

#16

oldmaninva

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 174

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From: Lynchburg Virginia.

Had it for over 35 years. Sounds like a summer might in the woods,crickets,tree frogs,etc. Came from being at the races all the time in the late 60's when I worked on what they called Grand National cars then. We didn't know anything about hearing protection, had to holler in each others ear during a race just to comunicate.Remember re-arching a leaf spring with a hammer and a piece of rail-road rail at Atlanta once and had an ear ach that night. Went to the field hospital the next day and got drops. Had it ever since. You get use to it over time. Only time I really pay any attention to it is at night when I go to bed and then it's kind of nice.

Oct 26, 2005 | 03:26 PM

#17

BrianA

Postmaster

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 4,532

Likes: 5

From: Trussville, Alabama

My ears ring 24-7-365.
My hearing is still pretty good, I just hear a high pitched tone (like a TV or radio test tone) when ambient noise level is low.
I attribute it to:
way too many gun shots without hearing protection.
way too many lawns mowed, and trees cut up, and 2X6's cut, etc. without hearing protection.
way too much loud music.

Kind of like closing the barn door after the cows got out, but now I wear hearing protection for most everything that involves loud noises.
Wish I had when I was younger.

The constant tone sucks.

Oct 26, 2005 | 08:19 PM

#18

Dealford

Cargo Master

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 3,237

Likes: 3

From: Belleville, Ontario

I had a little accident in 73. Kind of keeled over & wacked my head on a railway track. I woke up the next morning badly hung over & the ringing was really loud.
Now, it's not so bad, but & have to have at least a small fan running (white noise) to drown out the constant hissing.
AL.

Oct 26, 2005 | 08:45 PM

#19

hazmatt9777

Junior User

Joined: Jun 2005

Posts: 92

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Im 15, Ive never had any kind of hearing problems (yet). Im trying to prevent it as much as I can, I got a job this past summer using a chainsaw and a chipper constantly and I got a good set of ear muffs to protect my ears. Ive also heard that cold air rushing by your ears will make you lose hearing over time. HEard that chainsaws are Really not good for hearing and the muffs have helped tremendously. I got a friend with a mustang and 2 12's and a 500 watt amp, its not even been a year and half the things I say he either says "huh?" or doesent hear me. I never shoot a gun anymore without muffs, the last time I did was a 357 magnum, and Everyone whose ever shot one of those knows why I dont shoot without muffs anymore.

Oct 26, 2005 | 09:28 PM

#20

bigrigfixer

The Pacifier

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 8,245

Likes: 7

From: Cloverdale, BC

I don't have it as bad as the rest of you, but I've had it for as long as I can remember. I think my first experience with it was when I was about 4 or 5. I was listening to my dad's watch ticking and then I heard the high pitch noise. I get that noise all the time, but not as frequent as you guys. Mostly once a month for about an hour at a time. Sometimes I can go 6 months without anything, sometimes a couple times a week for a couple months. But I don't get irritated by it.

My last hearing test about 5 years ago the technician was actually quite impressed. Top marks across the board, out heard everybody else in the shop. Probably not quite as good now, but I've got form fitted ear plugs and muffs for any anticipated loud noises.

Oct 26, 2005 | 09:45 PM

#21

Howdy

Posting Guru

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 2,007

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From: Oregon

It's good to start young...

Years ago I don't remember anyone wearing hearing protection. It was out there, but not really common. They had these little cotton ***** wrapped in plastic - just about worthless.

When you're young it seems like you get your hearing back after working all day around loud stuff, but you really lose it, bit by bit. You don't notice it at first, because it's in certain ranges.

Chainsaws and two-cycle engines will do it for sure. I've been around some jet engines that didn't help me any. Diesel generator rooms can be really bad. I worked some rock concerts that were a blast at 25, but I'm paying for now.

A couple things that most don't think about is metal to metal and certain paints, like latex. I worked at a steel warehouse for a few years and every once in a while someone would drop two plates together. When a couple 1" x 8' square plates slap together, (usually happened when someone had one on edge and tried to lay it down on another that was horizontal), it's a really high freq. for a very short duration. Such a high pitch, it doesn't sound loud, but it is. Most of the noise is just out of your range, but it messes with your hearing. Latex paint, (like when you spray airless), can hurt your hearing and make your ears ring, too.

Start when you're young. Hate to think what effect these stereos are going to have in 20 years.

Oct 26, 2005 | 09:47 PM

#22

rosa70

Senior User

Joined: Mar 2004

Posts: 358

Likes: 1

From: Florida

I had it pretty bad when I was a kid. I had a bike tire blow up in my face. My parents took me all over the place to get it fixed with no relief. Then when I turned 22 I saw an add in a newspaper about ringing in ears. I was like I have to check this out. It was an acupuncture study and I was even going to get paid for the tests. I figured I had nothing to loose. I went for 12 weeks 2 times a week and got acupuncture all over the place. At first I was like this is total BS. Then after the 5 week I started noticing less and less ringing in the ears. By the 12th week I had a major improvement in the amount of ringing in the ear. Now 13years latter the ringing is just as diminished as it was after the procedures. I did go for more treatments after but found it didnt get much less.

After the treatments I had a 24dB decrease in the ringing.

Oct 27, 2005 | 02:01 PM

#23

Redneck'n

Senior User

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 162

Likes: 0

From: Benton, La.

I have the "cricket" noise too. It's from working security at concerts, playing in bands, and shooting guns without ear protection. I don't really notice is unless it's really quiet.. Or somebody starts discussing that kind of thing..haha..

I do have to sleep with the tv on at nite or something because it will keep me from sleeping... Other than that, I hear really well.. I hear things that people ought not hear most of the time.. even with the ringing.. go figure.