Hard of Hearing Facts

[Lowellhturner]

Wore both while on the flight deck of the JOHN F KENNEDY and CARL VINSON and various flight lines. Still, 180 decibels at 10` away, riding in choppers, and being around small (and not so small) arms plus a few yrs jack hammering plus operating a drop press for awhile didn`t do my hearing any `good`...

[Pool13_Jeff]

Worked manufacturing for 13 years and also fired more shells through my rifles and scatter guns than I can count. Now I wear one of the finest aids from Costco that money could buy. Changed my life! People used to think I was pissed all the time, because they thought I was yelling. Actually, it was because I couldn't hear my own voice so I talked louder. Now, the people that have known me a long time think I'm sedated because I talk much quieter.

[Liveaboard74]

I get to be in this club. Don't get me started about selective hearing, I'm the Dennis the Menace of selective hearing and lord knows I use it to my advantage. Might as well, there ain't nothing we can do about it.
GF says i'm 95% perfect. That other 5 percent is from not wearing them 99% of the time and totally agree with what Poll13_Jeff said about talking loud.
Always played the music to loud, and been into racing most of my life without protection but I do now but like someone else said its a tad late.
What I miss the most is the crickets and frogs when they fire up at evening time and we grill out almost every night. Skimped on them for another two years with the DOT physical but i'm sure I won't be so lucky when it comes around again. Have wore them for about 15 years.
If we go out with friends, yes, i'll stick them in but around home or playing with the toys, I'm busy anyway, and your not suppose to be talking from the back of the boat, your suppose to be fishing.

[stormcloud]

Shotguns got mine. Left ear is history and the right ain't to sporty. Comes in handy sometimes. Had to stop squirrel hunting though. Only way I could do it now would be with a dog. Just not as much fun as still hunting. I have left boats or blinds from duck hunting and my ears would still be ringing the next morning when I was on my way back out there. When I did most of the damage to my ears, no one had ever heard of ear plugs.

[stormcloud]

Reading this thread got me thinking. The company I bought a hearing aid from a couple of years ago was having a seminar here in town. The one I got made things louder but not clearer. I called to RSVP and after talking to the lady I wasn't going to learn anything I didn't already know from the seminar. She suggested I come in and let her tune the hearing aid I have. I did that. It was daylight and dark. I have a screen room across the back of my house that I usually sit and watch the day wake up and go to bed. I went out there that evening, after getting the hearing aid readjusted. I didn't stay long. The birds and all the noises were driving me crazy. It wasn't peaceful anymore. I will have to get used to it. But now when my wife turns her back mudders some smart remark and I say what did you say, she'll say nothing. I got her now. Hope I don't have to get my belt out.