Hearing Loss Report & Aid Recommendation

Egon · Oct 17, 2004

Bird:

The areas where the studies were conducted involved primative tribes in the rain forest that were subjected to none of the daily noises we encounter. Nothing like a radio, TV, gunfire or vacum cleaner had ever been heard by these people.

Perhaps I should have said lifestyle/living conditions rather than area.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SteveH_CT · Oct 17, 2004

( You guys,,,,,,,safety is a good thing,but,,,no body needs a hard hat unless something may hurt there head )

I've had limbs fall from partially dead trees - been hit twice now - 1 pair of glasses bent, 1 pair broken, and best of all I had a minor concussion that resulted in a very (15 minutes or so) temporary blindness.

Is that a good reason to wear a hardhat now... I think so. You see "Thingy" I've been clearing out heavily treed land for our horses - working in and around trees is quite different from other uses... maybe you've never done it.

And I wasn't trying to make it the norm... I was sharing with another user of this forum what I've done to protect myself from loud noise and from falling objects. If you don't think that using a tractor for 6 or 7 hours isn't hard on your hearing then maybe you've already lost too much of your own hearing.

( My point too,,,take care of yours and I will[or will not],take care of mine,land of the free and all that,,oh,,forgot,your from,,,well,, thingy )

Clever line there too - BTW - where are you from? You've never filled out your profile.

RICHARDG · Oct 17, 2004

West by God Virginia is where I live and born....O.K.,,,,since you are telling me things about what I might know or not know, that you wouldn't have a clue,,seems I can "talk back at you a little",will try and be nice.Been around trees all my life,cut trees,timbered,etc. etc.,,never wore a hard hat in the woods,never been hurt by trees or their products,,so,won't start wearing a hard hat when I go in the woods.
A normal sububinite tractor owner,is not going to suffer any hearing loss from one of these modern tractors,,most people don't put more than 100 hrs on their toy a year,,so 6-7 hrs once every couple of weeks or so,,ain't going to hurt your hearing none,,don't worry.
I have been a construction type worker all my life,,we got to wear hardhats in most places,whether we actually need them or not,we are supposed to wear hearing protection in certain areas as well,whether we need them or not,we are supposed to wear steel toed shoes in most areas whether we need them or not,,we are supposed to wear a safety harness and tie off whether we need to or not,we are supposed to wear resperators in certain places whether we need them or not,we are supposed to wear special protective coveralls in certain areas whether we need them or not,we are supposed to wear protective eye wear where we need them or not,we are not supposed to smoke or chew in certain areas whether it makes any sense or not,,,are you starting to get my point???
If you think you need it,,by all means wear it,,but just because a stick falls out of a tree and hits you in the head,,you maybe shouldn't go on a campaign to make all people wear hard hats when they go near trees.
And I'm thrilled that you think I'm clever,,,thingy

AndyM · Oct 17, 2004

"we are supposed to wear hearing protection in certain areas as well,whether we need them or not" 

I've worked in a large factory since age 18. When I started there, safety PPE such as hearing protection wasn't required, and now I'm paying the price. Now that I'm in my 30's, I've seen the light and wear hearing protection performing such chores as operating a chainsaw. I really should have them on while operating the tractors, but haven't yet, but I should.

Now that I've lost a good portion of my hearing, I've realized that it's something that you can't get back, and you don't realize the importance until it's too late! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Inspector507 · Oct 17, 2004

I really should have them on while operating the tractors, but haven't yet, but I should. 

Yes Andy you should. I do "almost" every time I'm on the tractor.
My hearing loss was something different though. I've always worked in construction, hammer drills, plants, you name it. And my hearing suffered as I got older. I had some trouble hearing due to a perforated ear drum early in life as a teenager. When I did feel I needed some help from the Doc because of pressure problems inside my ear, he found the ear drum was being drawn into my ear. I agreed to surgery to find the problem and woke up 5 hours later, minus a huge tumor, and NO hearing in that ear. The tumor had eaten 2 of the three inner ear bones and they had to be removed along with the tumor. It actually was the tumor that passed the sound vibrations on instead of the bones. I now have to wear one of the strongest aids available just be able to hear anything at all in that ear. And the other ear is not up to par because of the work I used to do.
For me......I'll try to protect what I have left.

I use Peltor Work Tunes, 22db NRR AND a volume limited radio.

SteveH_CT · Oct 17, 2004

Now I'm on a campaign? Did you read the 1st post? I was answering a question asked of the members...

Thanks for your medical advice regarding my hearing, in addition to being around trees all your life I see your into Otolaryngology... Yes "Thingy" I got your point - everyone else around you doesn't know anywhere near as much as you do about the environmental hazards and are nothing but a bunch of fools who are all to worried about their effects on your health.

So enjoy yourself - smoke some asbestos, leave the hardhat home, and kick back in your sneakers while your on the job site.... because you got it all figured out cousin.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

RICHARDG · Oct 18, 2004

Thanks,,,and you be carefull too,,watch those trees,,,the ones on the wizard of oz will slap you and throw apples at you,,your hillbilly friend,,,thingy

SteveH_CT · Oct 18, 2004

Don't forget the ones in Lord of the Rings... They'll actually chase you... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

slowrev · Oct 18, 2004

It appears to me that some peoples hearing will go down whether they are subjected to loud noises or not. My wifes hearing is going down, mine is still fine. I have worked around loud noises a lot and she has not. With that said I have started wearing hearing protection when chainsawing and such for the past couple of years, It can't hurt and I don't have ringing ears afterwards. I wear the little squeezy plugs.

Ben

gws · Oct 18, 2004

I have been wearing hearing aids close to 30 years now.
I am no expert at reading the report but The report shows you have loss on your high frequencies. Both on bone and air conductivity show about the same so YES its permanant. Luckly the loss isnt so bad that hearing aids cant help.

Find yourself a good hearing aid fitter, Some state require a perscription to be fitted. Figure your going to spend a minimum of $1000 for a hearing aid and price may go based on specific loss needs and brands. You might want to consider getting one high end aid and one low end aid for a backup. Once you get use to using them, you can get lost without them. A good fitter will find the right aid, give you 30-60 day test period. If it doesnt do what you want send it back and get another. The first few aids take time to learn how to use properly, getting use to how to use the aids in everyday situations. Phone, crowed area,etc.

If you have other questions drop me a email.