Even with hearing protection worn most of the time (I've been exposed to perhaps a dozen or so unmuffed rounds over the years) I still have mild tinnitus and can't hear my wife in the next room over a sound like running water in the sink.
But I think I did most of my damage with a Walkman and later on hanging around race cars all long before I was a shooter.
@ Paul: Preach it, brother. I will respond to a text or an email but there are about six people from whom I will answer a phone call. I cannot remember the last phone call I initiated. I thought the high pitched whine was my ex wife, a leftover superheterodyne punishment from having married her in the first place.
Racing motorcycles and shooting are a sure-fire combo for hearing damage. Huh?What was that? Come again? I may as well be stone deaf in most eating establishments. I love the ear plug/amplified earmuff combo if its not blazing hot out.
Last time I had my hearing checked, by the VA, the tech looked at the results and said, "I bet you can't hear conversations in a room with a tv or radio running." He was correct. The Tinnitus is kind of a treat though, hearing it lets me know I woke up alive until I move and the pain reminds me.
Mrs. Drang has learned through the years that, in a crowded room or a party she sometimes needs to provide me with background static so I can hear people. Literally, she will stand behind me going "sssshhhhh". All those years of listening to commies on the radio, on top of generators, trucks, and helicopters... Gunfire had little to do with it.
Being both softly spoken and having just deep enough a voice ... it's almost as if someone designed background noise specifically so that no-one can hear me.
It's either that or everyone is just ignoring me because they think I'm full of sh.... Nah! must be the tone of my voice.
Mis-hearing isn't my problem (thank you wolf ears/peltor) it's mis-reading. Robot Steaks, is that with pepper sauce and fries?
Years in the Texas oil fields, surrounded by diesel engines running wide open. Then there is that whole 1st wife thing. The current SW think I ignore her. I've found that most women's voices fall into the frequency range where I have my most serious deficit. Luckily I don't have tinnitus.
The time I spent as a firearms instructor in the MC wasn't a factor. We were fanatic about hearing protection. We even wore it in the butts.
One of the radio stations I listen to has a jingle for Toyota of Tri-City. The singer's lack of diction and enunciation makes it sound like they're selling the Toyota Atrocity.
Yeah, did that for 31 years on a fire truck with my arm resting on the housing. Ad the siren, air horn and power tools on scene and now I just say WHAT?
I know I'm hard of hearing (Yes, I'm a vet)but I misread it as Robot Snakes. Can't see, can't hear, and how can't sleep for the snakey nightmares. Jeez.
I suspect track conditions will be less than ideal for the Bukkake Derby.
ReplyDeleteEeeeew.
ReplyDeleteWhen they run the "free gas" promo on the radio I hear the station is giving away freak ass. Hmm.
ReplyDelete"...and on day two of DragonCon, there will be..."
ReplyDeleteSilly me, I always thought the Triple Crown was Indianapolis, Pocono and Fontana, but what do I know?...
ReplyDeleteAll The Best,
Frank W. James
The mudders will do ok in the bukkake derby. I've SEEN the robot stakes, and nobody wins that but the robots.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was batting average, home runs, and RBI, myself. ;)
ReplyDeleteEven with hearing protection worn most of the time (I've been exposed to perhaps a dozen or so unmuffed rounds over the years) I still have mild tinnitus and can't hear my wife in the next room over a sound like running water in the sink.
ReplyDeleteBut I think I did most of my damage with a Walkman and later on hanging around race cars all long before I was a shooter.
Anyone who has been to the infield of the track at Pimlico already knows about the Freakness.
ReplyDeletehttp://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2013/05/infield-insanity-preakness-debauchery-through-the-years-2/#3
I also have tinnitus. Kind of like a high pitched whine. My wife says I don't listen to her, but I think I hear her all day long.
ReplyDeleteI almost have given up on phones. You want to tell me something, text is the way to go.
@ Paul: Preach it, brother. I will respond to a text or an email but there are about six people from whom I will answer a phone call. I cannot remember the last phone call I initiated. I thought the high pitched whine was my ex wife, a leftover superheterodyne punishment from having married her in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI suggest hearing protection when within earshot of a television set.
ReplyDeleteThey are putting Horse Bukkake on the TV?
ReplyDeleteOk then.
Horses? That's a lot of bukkake!
ReplyDeleteSince I currently provide quarters for my second ex-wife, I think shooting more might be a way that I can live through the next few years.
ReplyDeleteRacing motorcycles and shooting are a sure-fire combo for hearing damage.
ReplyDeleteHuh?What was that? Come again? I may as well be stone deaf in most eating establishments. I love the ear plug/amplified earmuff combo if its not blazing hot out.
Last time I had my hearing checked, by the VA, the tech looked at the results and said, "I bet you can't hear conversations in a room with a tv or radio running." He was correct. The Tinnitus is kind of a treat though, hearing it lets me know I woke up alive until I move and the pain reminds me.
ReplyDeleteTam, adjust your dress - your Freudian Slip is showing...
ReplyDeleteTinnitus plus about 80% loss in left ear here. Thanks, Uncle Sam!
gvi
Mrs. Drang has learned through the years that, in a crowded room or a party she sometimes needs to provide me with background static so I can hear people. Literally, she will stand behind me going "sssshhhhh". All those years of listening to commies on the radio, on top of generators, trucks, and helicopters... Gunfire had little to do with it.
ReplyDeleteog: I thought the high pitched whine was my ex wife, a leftover superheterodyne punishment
ReplyDeleteHaving a few X's myself, I don't think you can totally discount that theory.
Tinnitus sucks. Everyone thinks I'm mad because I have to yell over the buzzing in my ears.
KM: Indeed. Though the tinnitus is less annoying.
ReplyDeleteMe,I wince every time I see "Leave feedback" on ebay. Wish I could
The Robot Stakes?
ReplyDeleteBrings back the memory of the Pushing and Pulling Robots protecting us from the Terrible Secret of Space.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E0ot9iJm_k
Push or Pull, they will protect us!
I have the inverted problem.
ReplyDeleteBeing both softly spoken and having just deep enough a voice ... it's almost as if someone designed background noise specifically so that no-one can hear me.
It's either that or everyone is just ignoring me because they think I'm full of sh.... Nah! must be the tone of my voice.
Mis-hearing isn't my problem (thank you wolf ears/peltor) it's mis-reading. Robot Steaks, is that with pepper sauce and fries?
DragonCon? Oh, John Ringo, Nooooooo.
ReplyDeleteSay what?
ReplyDeleteYears in the Texas oil fields, surrounded by diesel engines running wide open. Then there is that whole 1st wife thing. The current SW think I ignore her. I've found that most women's voices fall into the frequency range where I have my most serious deficit. Luckily I don't have tinnitus.
ReplyDeleteThe time I spent as a firearms instructor in the MC wasn't a factor. We were fanatic about hearing protection. We even wore it in the butts.
One of the radio stations I listen to has a jingle for Toyota of Tri-City. The singer's lack of diction and enunciation makes it sound like they're selling the Toyota Atrocity.
ReplyDelete"We even wore it in the butts."
ReplyDeleteMan, i hope you didnt get those plugs mixed up.
Different sized carry cases, I'm guessing...
ReplyDeletesurrounded by diesel engines running wide open
ReplyDeleteYeah, did that for 31 years on a fire truck with my arm resting on the housing. Ad the siren, air horn and power tools on scene and now I just say WHAT?
I know I'm hard of hearing (Yes, I'm a vet)but I misread it as Robot Snakes. Can't see, can't hear, and how can't sleep for the snakey nightmares. Jeez.
ReplyDelete