Loss of hearing

[tony]

I usually wear hearing protection when I shoot. But in the last month I've managed to be without it when firing two different .380s. The first time was only 14 rounds but I couldn't take anymore. My left ear physically hurt. I had diminished hearing ability for about 4 days.

Last friday I wanted try out some new personal defense hollow points in my LCP. It worked great. But after only 7 rounds I couldn't do anymore. It's now Thursday, My left ear is ringing right now. There's the sensation that an object is 2" from my ear, blocking some frequencies. Like holding your hand next to your ear. It is slowly getting better but the imbalance is driving me nuts.

How long should it take to heal?
Am I going deaf?
Is this permanent?

Tony

[cudalyon]

I usually wear hearing protection when I shoot. But in the last month I've managed to be without it when firing two different .380s. The first time was only 14 rounds but I couldn't take anymore. My left ear physically hurt. I had diminished hearing ability for about 4 days.

Last friday I wanted try out some new personal defense hollow points in my LCP. It worked great. But after only 7 rounds I couldn't do anymore. It's now Thursday, My left ear is ringing right now. There's the sensation that an object is 2" from my ear, blocking some frequencies. Like holding your hand next to your ear. It is slowly getting better but the imbalance is driving me nuts.

How long should it take to heal?
Am I going deaf?
Is this permanent?




Tony

Speak up...I can't hear you!

No idea if it is permanent or not. I would guess no. The body does some amazing healing. Buy a box of those cheap disposable ear plugs and grab a handful and put them everywhere. With your guns, in your car, at work, everywhere.

[Diesel]

once took me well over a week to hear anything at all again after making that stupid mistake.. you never realize how precious your hearing is untill it is gone

[ryantx23]

I usually wear hearing protection when I shoot. But in the last month I've managed to be without it when firing two different .380s. The first time was only 14 rounds but I couldn't take anymore. My left ear physically hurt. I had diminished hearing ability for about 4 days.

Last friday I wanted try out some new personal defense hollow points in my LCP. It worked great. But after only 7 rounds I couldn't do anymore. It's now Thursday, My left ear is ringing right now. There's the sensation that an object is 2" from my ear, blocking some frequencies. Like holding your hand next to your ear. It is slowly getting better but the imbalance is driving me nuts.

How long should it take to heal?
Am I going deaf?
Is this permanent?

Tony

Tony,

Your hearing should come back just fine. How are you liking your LCP? I hear good things about them. If you think firing that bad boy without hearing protection, try firing of an AR10 with an 18 inch barrel with a muzzle break on the end of it.... It makes guys on the firing line next to me dizzy its so loud:D

[tony]

It only seems to be .380 for some reason. First it was my dads old Colt .380 1908 hammerless and now my LCP.

I love my LCP for many reasons! It came out at the right time cause I was about to go against my better judgement and buy a Keltec. That statement may piss off some guys. But, honestly as long as Keltec had the market share, as much money as they made and as long as it's been around. They should have improved their product more than they did.

Keltec = feels like a toy
Ruger = feels like a small pistol

The LCP isn't my favorite shooter, but obviously it cannot be compared to full size pistols. The new magazine finger extension helps a lot.

Tony

[cwconnertx]

your hearing will heal with time, but not if you continue this.

I keep plugs in my office, car, briefcase, etc.

If you think the AR10 and muzzle break is loud you should try a 50. The muzzle blast will knock things off the shooting stands!
Best to wear ear plugs and muffs.

[Big_Saw]

If you're not protecting your hearing, you WILL lose it at the range.....trust me on one thing: mono-sound sux. Every time you temporarily lose hearing, you only gain back about 70-95% of the freqs damaged.....which means after about 20 serious injuries, you could very well lose an entire spectrum.....wear your muffs or adequate ear plugs....every time....

[David M.]

I disagree just a little with the hearing coming back completely. I've done alot of dumb things over the years, but hearing loss is something that only gets worse as you get older. I've been tested several times at work, and have signifigant loss in the left ear. I can't hear a watch tick in that ear now.Yours will come back, but there is some damage. The range won't be that noticable at first, it creeps up on you over time. Just try to avoid things like that in the future and maintain what you've got. I agree with 'Saw.

[Diesel]

I def lost some perm hearing maybe in the 10-20% realm

[ryantx23]

I've shot the 50 and it does go boom pretty loud ;) I was hog hunting the other night with some buddies when we saw about 50 of them running through the field. I started lighting them up with my AR and didnt realize the guy behind me in the rear passenger seat of the SUV we were in had stuck his AK out the window. I think his muzzle blast singed my hair and having the muzzle of an AK less then 2 feet from your ear going off isn't pretty! My right ear rang for 4 days

[Diesel]

ROFL sorry i get carried away sometimes Ryan ;)

[lazer128]

Take it from an ol' deaf fart...protect your hearing like you protect your jewels. I lost a great deal of my hearing by operating a skid steer every weekend with no hear protection for several months. Dumb! Dumb! Dumb! I preach to my two boys how they need to be careful. I can't hear turkeys or deer walking in dry leaves that the two of them do. My average kill dropped when I lost my hearing.

Take your hearing seriously. Wish I had!

[Rustyshakelford]

Muffs and plugs will help, but do not eliminate the problem. In a former life I used to shoot a lot. Most of the time when practicing I used plugs and muffs, and when not practicing I went without. I started having a lot of hearing loss in certain sound ranges.

The Doc said it was atcually the recoil that was causing the breakdown of the inner ear. Said this sort of deafess would not be eliminated by muffs or plugs. CRAP!!!

I have noticed that it progressed to a point and has stopped. Of course I only shoot about 10% of what I used to. It is still a lot, but not an extreme amount.

[Long_Hunter]

Trust me, once you lose your hearing it will not come back. I was once told that the high pitched ringing you here after being exposed to noises, such as rifle fire, without hearing protection, those are the frequencies you won't here anymore; just listen to them as they fade away. I have complete high frequency lose in both ears; I left it all on a hill called Tinajitas in Dec of 89. It does not come back; protect what you have while you still have it. It only netted me 10% disability when I retired, but I do get free hearing aids from the VA, not that I use them, just ask my wife.:D

[lazer128]

The quieter it is the louder those damn crickets are!