I'm not 55 yet, and as such am restraining myself from voting.
For the record, I'm 30.  I have been working around diesel generators (Cat, Cummins, and Detroit's) for the past 7 years, oftentimes with ear plugs or ear protection of some type, and many times with no protection at all minus a finger in my left ear.  Why only the left ear?  It's the one that works better.  I've started using ear protection more often than I used to because I noticed that my hearing has gotten worse.  There is one particular incident that I remember that I know affected my hearing; I was working on a piece of equipment (low voltage transfer switch, 480 VAC) when I made a mistake and took phase voltage to ground resulting in an arc flash type explosion.  Besides the brightness of the flash which resulted in seeing spots for a couple of hours, the boom from the flash resulted in ringing in my ears, more so my right one which still rings occasionally.  This was about 6 years ago when it happened.  The incident also prompted me to start smoking again (I had quit roughly 6 months earlier after being in the hospital for 5 days with pneumonia, but that's another story for another day).  Fortunately, I managed to have no other adverse affects, I was lucky and didn't get burnt, and besides the hearing problem, I am in good shape.  SO....moral of the story?  Wear hearing protection when at all possible, because that is the only thing that once gone does not return.

Quote:


+1 Vers!

Oldfeller--FSO wrote on 07/09/11 at 09:26:56:

Well stated.

And Bob, you get to remind me next time I snap at a young puppy fer chewing on my tail, it's not like we all haven't done it at some time or another so don't feel individual about it -- they are right aggravating at times ('cept for the young girls, that is -- they are kinda cute)

Haven't read all the posts,.. so I may be repeating...
... and I did see Magicninja make mention of it...

Watch out for I-pods!,... earbuds etc...
They are worse than shooting, riding, and playing rock'nroll...

It's the difference between riding in the wind,... and sticking an air compressor nozzle up your nose... ...

Longview Texas,, car pulls up next to me at a lite,, I can hear the body panels vibrating,, its so LOUD,, sounds like crap,, but its LOUD,,, I look over at the driver,, & HE is wearin earplugs!!!  I made it backfire with the kickstand ,, just to shake him up,, wadda maroon

As a 20 year wearer of hearing aids, I hope that you will do all things possible to protect your hearing. In the good old USN I stood a water maker watch between #4 main engine turbo and the 2 vapor compressors on the water makers. For days after we came in port I would be all but deaf and the corpsman's answer was cotton balls in the ear. After that I worked 3 summers in State of Alaska Marine Hiway engine rooms w/o any protection. Many years later I took a trip on the new Ferry and asked to go in the engine-room. Answer was no. While machinery is in operation, all personnel will wear ear muffs from opening the engine room hatch until departure. Failure results in 1 warning, 2nd time off the boat no matter where you are in your shift , 3rd time immediate dismissal. They finally figured it out and no visitors. This included in port time when not on shore power.

Like what folks have said before, hearing loss usually does not come back and once the nerves are damaged there is no hope. Hopefully your insurance will help you with hearing aids. Last pair cost $3000. Insurance only pays $2000. damage one or get it wet, $500 to repair. They are a hassle as if turned up too loud, will ring in your ears, My chemo creates acne like pimples, a pimple under a earpiece is really painful. They whistle when the pillow has a plastic cover, hospitals and hotels. Turn 'em down and then you cannot understand what is being asked of you and the answer you guess at often is cause for much merriment. Phones, especially cell phones are next to useless. Movies are a thing of the past, even with the headphones that good theaters provide, you miss all the quiet parts. Conversation in a noisy room is next to impossible. Wind noise from the road in a vehicle makes listening to the radio or music almost impossible. I could go on. I do believe we will have generation of hearing impaired folks from the car steeros that make the car vibrate. My audiologist told me even the blue tooth versions coming onto the market won't help my kind of hearing damage. Please protect your hearing!! huh? Max

My left ear has been ringing since 1962 It was at the rifle range in the army where it started and as never quit,I went to doctor when I got out,He said the ear drum was inverted he treated it for about a month it didn't help so I quit going.Its on my army medical records.I try to get a pension for it but they wanted me to tell them what other guys in my outfit remembered it.I had no way to do that.I know guys that get and extra $100 a month from the government for it .But it didn't work for me.