Ears ringing

[cokewithvanilla]

So, my ears have been ringing since july 4th... any of you had a problem like this before?

Last time I went shooting, I forgot my hearing protection... I figured I wouldn't bother going back to get it... usually outdoor shooting is no issue for me w/o hp. I was fine with everything I brought (.22, 9mm, 12ga, 7.62x39), then I shot ONE shot with my .45.... my ears felt like they exploded. Needless to say, I went home and got the hearing protection. Unfortunately, my ears have been ringing ever since.

I guess 1. I don't understand why all the sudden I am that sensitive to loud noises when I never was before. 2. why is it lasting so long and will it go away?

[Face]

E.N.T.

[gdb]

Whatever the cause that starts it, tinnitus seldom goes away, unfortunately.I've had it for years.

[bobman1235]

What gdb says. Never forego hearing protection. These things aren't reversible.

[treitz3]

This can be caused by a multitude of things. Scheduling an appointment with an ear specialist would be the first thing on my list of priorities if I were you.

[gdb]

BTW...a .22 can damage hearing also, maybe not as fast as big bores but damage all the same.

[cokewithvanilla]

BTW...a .22 can damage hearing also, maybe not as fast as big bores but damage all the same.

I find .22 to be very sharp, worse than 9mm IMO.... it probably also has a lot to do with barrel length... I think a suppressor is on my list of things to buy.

[bobman1235]

I find .22 to be very sharp, worse than 9mm IMO.... it probably also has a lot to do with barrel length... I think a suppressor is on my list of things to buy.

Check your state laws, suppressors are often illegal or require extra licensing.

[cokewithvanilla]

Check your state laws, suppressors are often illegal or require extra licensing.

TN was a $200 tax stamp class 2 item... I'll be sure to check here since I just moved.

[John in MA]

Check your state laws, suppressors are often illegal or require extra licensing.

Federally you need to pay the $200 tax stamp, but they're not illegal. I think most states allow them under certain circumstances.

[bobman1235]

Federally you need to pay the $200 tax stamp, but they're not illegal. I think most states allow them under certain circumstances.

According to Wikipedia (take that with a grain of salt, obv) they're illegal in 12 states. But I know in many states you need special permission or whatever (beyond the federal tax stamp), so I was just pointing it out.

[decal]

It only took seven posts to turn this thread in an entirely different direction !!!

[cubdog]

I spent my Navy days in a gun mount aboard a Destroyer Escort. Weeks at a time on the gunline pretty much destroyed, NPI, my hearing. My tinnitus is loud and constant. Earplugs were not even an afterthought in those days.

cubdog

[Tony M]

I'm sorry to hear you hear that ringing. I get it every week off and on because I use ear plugs to silence my wifes' snoring. The more I use the plugs, the more the ringing stays.

I feel for anybody that has that continueously with no cure....


Good luck finding relief.

[woodhead 2]

Welcome to the club. Mine have been nonstop for about a year and a half.

[steveinaz]

Hate to be Captian Obvious, but even .22's require hearing protection. Give it some more time, the ringing may slowly fade away. I had an ear plug fall out while shooting an M60 machine gun (7.62mm); and my left ear distorted for weeks. The distortion (crunchy sound) went away, but I've been left with some tinnitus.

Also NOTE; sometimes ringing of the ears is a symptom of high blood pressure..(I realize it's not applicable to your case)

[John in MA]

An old friend of mine was on the Army rifle team in the '50s. Shooting .308, .30-06, and .300 Win with no hearing protection, ever. He's pretty damn deaf now.

I even wear hearing protection for mowing the lawn or using a shop vac.

[leadfoot1]

My ears have been ringing every second of every day since I was a little kid. I am almost 40 now. I remember my parents taking me multiple times to doctors but I guess they couldn't figure it out

[bobman1235]

My ears have been ringing every second of every day since I was a little kid. I am almost 40 now. I remember my parents taking me multiple times to doctors but I guess they couldn't figure it out

Same here (though I'm only 31). Some of the most frustrating doctors visits of my life, where they do all these ridiculous tests and then basically say "yup, well... dont' drink so much caffeine, sometimes that helps." Thanks.

[gdb]

If you see any knuckleheads out cutting hurricane damaged trees without hearing protectors on, you might tell em what they're risking. I always do.

[faster100]

I shot a 22 no ear protection, and 13 years later still have ringing. for 1 week i almost couldnt hear it was so loud and muffled and then went back to normal i guess, only with the ringing. have gotten used to it pretty much but seems sometimes they ring louder for no good reason

[Face]

Just unloaded 200 rounds of 12ga slugs this morning, no ringing whatsoever.

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Xtreme-...4008296&sr=8-2 with your standard sport earmuffs/protection on top.

[steveinaz]

Sometimes decongestants and allergy medicines will aggravate tinnitus as well. I took a Zertec this morning, and the ringing is very noticable.

[Polkersince85]

^^ Advil and Aleve allegedly can cause it also. I suspect the OP's issue has to do with the 45.

[cokewithvanilla]

^^ Advil and Aleve allegedly can cause it also. I suspect the OP's issue has to do with the 45.

True... but I'd love to know why... why all the sudden... why that specific caliber/gun?

It's gotta be a certain frequency... if you look at the measured sound from different calibers, 9mm is louder than .45 (or so they say)

[gdb]

Just unloaded 200 rounds of 12ga slugs this morning, no ringing whatsoever.

I use these: http://www.amazon.com/Hearos-Xtreme-...4008296&sr=8-2 with your standard sport earmuffs/protection on top.

Why slugs? How's the shoulder?

[Face]

It's a semi-auto and from what I've read, that's the recommended break in before using game load, etc... Even though recoil is less than a pump action, it still looks pretty gross right now. :D

[indyhawg]

A few years back I was at the range firing an AR-15. The only hearing protection I was using was the headphone type protection. The headphones happened to slip as I fired and I had problems with my right ear. About a year later I broke down and went to an ear specialist. Fortunately, there was no hearing damage, just an irritation that would not go way. He prescribed some medication and within a couple of months, the problem was cleared up. I consider myself lucky. I now use the regular earplugs as well as the headphone type- just to be extra careful.

[Tony M]

I don't drink again yet and was wondering if boose of any type helps silence it some?

CMWTKnow