[bobski]

im sorta glad im half deaf. the things said today are sometimes best ignored.

[Threetango]

Originally Posted by 7point62

You're like Billy Waugh and the energizer bunny. Welcome home twice.

Originally Posted by WebleyFosbery38

Ditto! Thank you!

Originally Posted by OldEagleEars

I spent most every summer from ages seven through twenty-one on the seat of an Allis Chalmers WD-45 doing field work on the family farm. So by the time the Army got my services in '67 my hearing was pretty well shot already; just not bad enough to keep me deferred (and I didn't have a missionary position in France to go to). I really don't remember one bit of total silence during my year in Vietnam except for after one rocket attack that was sorta close (my ears just shut down for a while from the concussion I guess). At no time during basic, AIT, or active duty did anyone mention "ear protection" so I guess there wasn't any. My son was in the Air Force and they would have nailed him if he had ever stepped on the flight line without his muffs on so I guess it's something that matters to the services now. BTW: Threetango; welcome home and thank you, Brother!

Thanks guy's, appreciate your replies.

[gary24153]

My hearing loss comes from almost 20 years on the flight line even with hearing protection.

[70cuda383]

in the aircraft maintenance world of the USAF, they have really gotten serious about hearing protection and annual hearing tests for those who work the flight lines. now that we know what we do about hearing loss (and how much it costs the VA every year in disability claims) they have really increased the awareness and prevention of hearing loss.

everyone has to wear ear protection when anywhere near running engines.


when I was deployed, anytime I was outside the wire, I had foamies in my ears. they were not so "powerful" that I could not hear people talking around me, but yet offered a degree of protection from loud pressure waves like gunshots, IEDs, etc.

[John_Deer]

Originally Posted by 70cuda383

when I was deployed, anytime I was outside the wire, I had foamies in my ears. they were not so "powerful" that I could not hear people talking around me, but yet offered a degree of protection from loud pressure waves like gunshots, IEDs, etc.

Foam ear protection only reduces sounds 30 decibels. I agree foam ear protection is the best option for a man in combat. At a range ear muffs offer much more protection, even the $20 Walmart ear muffs give a shooter 60 decibels of sound reduction. The high end ear muffs offer even more protection while allowing the shooter to hear a child talking. If you are going to shoot a lot at the range or at home invest in the best hearing protection you can afford.

Take it from someone who hears a constant ringing in his ears. Someone who needs a hearing aid to hear the sweet voices of children. A person who avoids crowds in confined spaces because he can't hear a thing. You don't want to end up like me.

[70cuda383]

Originally Posted by John_Deer

Foam ear protection only reduces sounds 30 decibels. I agree foam ear protection is the best option for a man in combat. At a range ear muffs offer much more protection, even the $20 Walmart ear muffs give a shooter 60 decibels of sound reduction. The high end ear muffs offer even more protection while allowing the shooter to hear a child talking. If you are going to shoot a lot at the range or at home invest in the best hearing protection you can afford.

Take it from someone who hears a constant ringing in his ears. Someone who needs a hearing aid to hear the sweet voices of children. A person who avoids crowds in confined spaces because he can't hear a thing. You don't want to end up like me.

Yup. I value my hearing, if I'm mowing the yard, my hearing protection is the form of ear buds with my MP3 player...with the music off, I can hear a noticable drop in volume of the tractor, even though it's just a little 17 horse yard tractor with a pretty decent muffler on it. if I'm working out in the garage on one of the cars, and using something like the angle grinder while fabricating, I put on the hard shell ear muffs. when operating the chainsaw, hard shell ear muffs, log splittler? yup. haha.

[Vincine]

Originally Posted by John_Deer

. . . At a range ear muffs offer much more protection, even the $20 Walmart ear muffs give a shooter 60 decibels of sound reduction. . .

60 NRR? I don't think so.

[Montaktical]

Ears ring, back is soar, ass hurts, headaches...who cares...Its a sacrafice. Like other jobs wouldnt cause problems. Rub some dirt on it and get back in the fight.