As lawnboy states, tinitus comes on slowly and take it from me its is a major bummer (tnks Uncle Sam)-would you believe that driving with the window open is one of the best ways to give yourself hearing damage?
Please use plugs in when in any noisy environment, and for those who ride especially EVEN (especially) with helmets on. The trick for the foamy plugs is to pull back on your ear while inserting the to keep pressure on the plug for 5 seconds or so. With a properly inserted foam plug you should hear very very little-just the noises in your head....:frown:
Now, would you believe that in some States its illegal to put in ear plugs :confused2:
You mean illegal when driving a car? Or just in general?
I have lost 40% of my hearing loss in my left hear but my right ear is fine. And I have ringing in that ear. But it varies from day to day. My father was on an aircraft carrier back in the 1960s and his tinnitus is constant. It never changes where I can have so much ringing it drown's out anything. Other times its minimal and I can barely detect any ringing. Seems like everybody I know who has been in the military or likes to shoot guns has hearing loss.
A few years ago I was "supposedly" diagnosed with Meniere's disease. It's got something to do with fluid buildup in the ear drum. The disease usually just happens all of a sudden and usually in one ear. It's not a progressive disease. It just happens one day. Doctors have no clue as to what causes it, much less how to treat it. The doctor did tell me to avoid anything with salt in it, caffeine and smoking. You know all the stuff doctors tell you to avoid anyway. Mine seems to be triggered by stress and lack of sleep more than anything. I can go to bed with my left ear rigging but if I get a good night sleep, it's not ringing in the morning.
My wife insisted I get a hearing aid. The lady who did the test said she had Meniere's disease but she said hearing loss is not related to the disease. Instead she said is was probably from driving with the window down.
I have had two full blown Meniere's attacks since I was diagnosed with it. This is where the room starts spinning, you can't balance and you throw up. The last attack was about three years ago. My main problem is the tinnitus in my left ear.
The other downside is I've lost most of my low frequency hearing loss, so any high pitch noises like my parent's Schnauzer barking or a baby screeching magnifies the noise. You might as well poke my temple with an ice pitch. Also my hearing loss falls in the frequency range of a telephone. So I have to hold the receiver up to my right ear.
I've also worked in a chemical plant for 25 years. This one machine we have to operate 2 hours per day runs at 85 decibels. They said at this volume, ear plugs were not enough. The company's answer was wear ear plugs and ear muffs. Even though I have always worn hearing protection even when I am at my house, I'm not sure if my job has caused my hearing loss. But I have not suffered any in my right hear.
BTW, my wife asked me the other day why lawnmower engines were so loud. The only thing I can think of is the engine blocks are so thin, that's were allot of the noise comes from. And the mufflers they install don't do that much anyway.
Any suggestions?.....thanks for the help...
I have been thinking about behind head muffs...
