Shooters ear

[rapid223fire]

I think it is called tinninitus. Im pretty sure ive got it. One day after work i need to vent and I happen to have my SBR AR with me.. I drive out too the hunting club too blast a few rounds. Not thinking right tht day i am not wearing ear plugs, first shot felt like an icepick to the left ear.. it really hurt. SInce that day i hear ringing alot, even when i am not shooting. I can cover my right rear and there is a dramatic reduction too...

Anyone ever had this happen? I sure someone has I just need to know if its permanant or temporary? SInce that day I alway wear ear protection, and bring some for others.....

This SBR i have is the loudest gun I own by a long shot... In the right circumstance you could probally deafen someone with it, much like the way i have partially done myself...

[JasonAC556]

Did you dump several mags without hearing prtection? If not, you probably will be alright. I have experienced this myself, although I was much younger when I did it. Remember, we heal much slower as we get older. It did get better, but it took a LONG TIME!!!! I think I had at least moderate ringing for at least 4-6 months before I noticed it got better.
I don't really think there is anything you can do to make it better. You will just have to wait it out.

[Der Verge]

Try a .44 mag w/o plugs in. It took bout 3 weeks for the ringing to go away. Everything sounded like I had a blown speaker up next to my head.

[surbat6]

I'm 58 years old and have had tinnitis for more than 30 of them. I'd describe it as more of a high-pitched whistle than a ringing noise.
It's very similar to one of the high frequency tones in a hearing test.
The cause - shooting without hearing protection (loud music will do it, too).
The trouble is that the damage is irreversible. The loud noise destroys sensory hairs in the cochlea of the inner ear. The ringing may seem to improve with time (just recovering from overload) but the damage is done already. You concern now is to protect what hearing you have left. Since (I presume) this is your first encounter with the phenomenon of acute noise injury, the damage is probably minimal.

[Metalhead]

9mm PT 92, emptied a 15rnd mag. outdoors (no ear plugs,young and dumb)-Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! for three days straight. You'll get over it but always use hearing protection from now on. I had to laugh, Dirty Harry was on the other night and he walks in the indoor range where a few guys are blasting away with .357 magnums (no hearing protection)-Harry didn't even blink. Works in the movies but not for us:)

[timlt]

9mm PT 92, emptied a 15rnd mag. outdoors (no ear plugs,young and dumb)-Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! for three days straight. You'll get over it but always use hearing protection from now on. I had to laugh, Dirty Harry was on the other night and he walks in the indoor range where a few guys are blasting away with .357 magnums (no hearing protection)-Harry didn't even blink. Works in the movies but not for us:)

I've always thought that was funny in movies as well--no ones wears hearing protection. I remember that movie the Substitute, where Tom Berenger is shooting it out with these gangsters inside a high school, using military style weapons. And no hearing protection. Yeah, RIGHT!

That does raise an interesting question though. I wonder how our military guys keep from going deaf, when they get into a serious shoot-out. Obviously being outside is better, but if they're shooting off a lot of rounds, let's face it, that is going to have a permanent impact on your hearing.

[mosin_man]

I had surgery on my left ear when i was little. I run a multi port drilling machine at my work. That thing is loud. I get this high pitch tone and I have to wear one ear plug. I use two at the range, but that ear is gonna be the same as it is forever.

[Der Verge]

As for tinnitis, I got it, at the ripe old age of 27. God do I love being a sheet metal worker!

[mosin_man]

Verge, how bad does it get when you get the high tones while you do your work? At my work we have 10 presses in the back, 3 NATCO machines, threaders, welders. All of it working at the same time. While at the range. I dont seem to have problems, but i need to know what pair of ear protection for the range is best, as in brand name wise.

[Metalhead]

I'm a tin knocker too, I use the yellow foam plugs that insert into the ear. I use these shooting because the ear muff type hinder in certain stances and holds w/rifles and pistol. The muff style makes wearing safety glasses tough because it interferes with a tight seal around the ear. The drawback to the foam type is you have to wait about twenty seconds for them to properly seal making it tough if your the type that removes and puts back on hearing protection often. I leave mine in and use the word "WHAT" alot :) .

Local 46 Rochester,NY Sheet Metal Workers.

[rapid223fire]

I find myself taking handfulls of those plugs from work too. -32db

My ears still ring alot though, especially when Im awake. I just ignore it now.

[Der Verge]

These are the type I prefer. Most comfortable type I have found. I have to buy them myself though. With a little discipline, I usually have them for a month or so before I loose them so, no big deal. I use them for work and shooting.
http://www.hearingportal.com/products/products2.asp?id=46

Metal Head, welcome to the boards, brother.......... Local 80 Sheet Metal Workers, Detroit Mi.

[JasonAC556]

Well, I guess I got exactly what I deserved!!!!! This past weekend I went out to "Blow off some steam" (read I was pi#*ed) with my M11/9 SMG. Dumped 3 mags into a handy rotten tree stump. GUESS WHAT!!!!!!

I'm OLD ENOUGH to know better, but I did it anyway. Now, WHEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I guess I just needed a reality check, huh???

EARTH TO JASON........You are NOT invincible!!!!

[JasonAC556]

I've always thought that was funny in movies as well--no ones wears hearing protection. I remember that movie the Substitute, where Tom Berenger is shooting it out with these gangsters inside a high school, using military style weapons. And no hearing protection. Yeah, RIGHT!

That does raise an interesting question though. I wonder how our military guys keep from going deaf, when they get into a serious shoot-out. Obviously being outside is better, but if they're shooting off a lot of rounds, let's face it, that is going to have a permanent impact on your hearing.

I've "been there done that." I can't tell you why, but when you are in combat, the noise doesn't affect you like it does normally. It isn't any worse than shooting outdoors without hearing protection. Maybe it is the adrenaline!?!?!

I won't say that you don't have any hearing loss, but it is not as bad as you might think.

Either way, I can tell you one thing for DAMN SURE!!! I don't want to do it AGAIN!!!! One War in a lifetime is enough for me!!!

[Der Verge]

Verge, how bad does it get when you get the high tones while you do your work? At my work we have 10 presses in the back, 3 NATCO machines, threaders, welders. All of it working at the same time. While at the range. I dont seem to have problems, but i need to know what pair of ear protection for the range is best, as in brand name wise.

Sorry Mosin, I did not answer your question. I am getting pretty good at ignoring the noise, and usually do not notice it until I have done something that has made lots of noise. Then the tone usually gets louder, and I KNOW it is there.

My left ear is bad. I can hear it ringing unless I am in an environment where I should have hearing protection. My right ear is much better. I can only hear the tone if it is VERY quiet, or I put in an earplug, etc. Either way though, it sucks.

Jason, I hate it when I have those kind of days. The problem I have is that I would have to drive about an hour or so, more like two with traffic, before I could blow off the steam. I think things would be severely damaged before I got that far......:D