Thread: Dont take hearing protection lightly

Some little snippets for you:

- ACC only covers hearing loss from occupational exposure, not recreational shooting. The only exception to this is if you cop a one-off "accidental" event like a mate letting his big banger off very close to your ear.

- Tinnitus is not caused by excessive wax. It is an expected side effect/symptom of inner ear ( sensorineural) damage.

- You can't measure the true level of firearms noise with basic sound level meters. They will significantly under-estimate the peak level which correlates with the risk

- Noise alone will only damage high frequency hearing. You can still hear rumbling stuff at distance well but voices sound muffled/mumbly and you will be in serious trouble in noisy social situations.

Yes, decent hearing aids help but can never come close to replacing what you were born with, especially in background noise.

In case you're wondering, I'm a near-retired clinical audiologist who has fitted tens of thousands of hearing aids..

Originally Posted by 6x47

Some little snippets for you:

- ACC only covers hearing loss from occupational exposure, not recreational shooting. The only exception to this is if you cop a one-off "accidental" event like a mate letting his big banger off very close to your ear.

- Tinnitus is not caused by excessive wax. It is an expected side effect/symptom of inner ear ( sensorineural) damage.

- You can't measure the true level of firearms noise with basic sound level meters. They will significantly under-estimate the peak level which correlates with the risk

- Noise alone will only damage high frequency hearing. You can still hear rumbling stuff at distance well but voices sound muffled/mumbly and you will be in serious trouble in noisy social situations.

Yes, decent hearing aids help but can never come close to replacing what you were born with, especially in background noise.

In case you're wondering, I'm a near-retired clinical audiologist who has fitted tens of thousands of hearing aids..

When I was tested and visited the specialist in the early 1980's ACC accepted their finding of industrial deafness. 30 plus years later on my 4th reassessment the ACC specialist has decided that only 17% is due to industrial noise, the rest is hereditary, even though I'm the only family member with any hearing loss.

Originally Posted by tetawa

When I was tested and visited the specialist in the early 1980's ACC accepted their finding of industrial deafness. 30 plus years later on my 4th reassessment the ACC specialist has decided that only 17% is due to industrial noise, the rest is hereditary, even though I'm the only family member with any hearing loss.

Don't be fooled by the scientific-looking percentages: they're numbers largely plucked out of mid air based on clinical intuition.

In the "old days", ENT specialists were largely inclined to say it was simply industrial deafness but in the last ~ 5yrs at least, ACC have hardened their attitude, especially what they expect of specialists. One good way to damage your industrial deafness claim is to say you've done a lot of recreational shooting. Pest control as part of a job, eg farmers, is OK though

Originally Posted by 6x47

Some little snippets for you:

- ACC only covers hearing loss from occupational exposure, not recreational shooting. The only exception to this is if you cop a one-off "accidental" event like a mate letting his big banger off very close to your ear.

- Tinnitus is not caused by excessive wax. It is an expected side effect/symptom of inner ear ( sensorineural) damage.

- You can't measure the true level of firearms noise with basic sound level meters. They will significantly under-estimate the peak level which correlates with the risk

- Noise alone will only damage high frequency hearing. You can still hear rumbling stuff at distance well but voices sound muffled/mumbly and you will be in serious trouble in noisy social situations.

Yes, decent hearing aids help but can never come close to replacing what you were born with, especially in background noise.

In case you're wondering, I'm a near-retired clinical audiologist who has fitted tens of thousands of hearing aids..

Gotta say Ive resisted and resisted and resisted hearing aids. Then my grand kids caused me grief cause I couldnt hold a conversation with them, so my wife got me a "free" hearing test, which I begrudgingly attended!! ( ffffing old people ) The guy did a full test and went through my options. He fitted a set so I good hear what I was missing. It was like "when can I get em" Not cheap, but no batteries to piss about with and hooks to my iphone. Have been wearing them 15 hrs a day since then, except for weekends working round the house or boating etc. Changed my life, and now can join in group conversation without saying, what? what? hey what? or just getting on my phone and disappearing into my own world in the corner.

Originally Posted by 6x47

Some little snippets for you:

- ACC only covers hearing loss from occupational exposure, not recreational shooting. The only exception to this is if you cop a one-off "accidental" event like a mate letting his big banger off very close to your ear.

- Tinnitus is not caused by excessive wax. It is an expected side effect/symptom of inner ear ( sensorineural) damage.

- You can't measure the true level of firearms noise with basic sound level meters. They will significantly under-estimate the peak level which correlates with the risk

- Noise alone will only damage high frequency hearing. You can still hear rumbling stuff at distance well but voices sound muffled/mumbly and you will be in serious trouble in noisy social situations.

Yes, decent hearing aids help but can never come close to replacing what you were born with, especially in background noise.

In case you're wondering, I'm a near-retired clinical audiologist who has fitted tens of thousands of hearing aids..

Ah. I am only going off what I felt like after the ear wax removal.

I did a few concerts and loud bike rides before I wised up and started wearing ear plugs.