NIHL (Noise Induced Hearing Loss)

**Didnotcomply89** · January 9th, 2018, 05:08 AM

I figured it would be a good idea to make a post regarding an event I had (suffered) 4 months ago regarding a negligent discharge. I am fine in terms of having the correct amount of holes and everyone else in the domicile was as well. I also felt like THE stupidest idiot on the planet for what I had done. I was fortunate that nearby neighbors (apartments) did not call police regarding a gunshot- probably because this was on a weekday at afternoon hours. I loaded what I thought was an unloaded magazine into my AK (not making that mistake ever again). I pulled the trigger to test it- and at this point the gun was aimed at the ground (on purpose, always). It discharged and went through the carpet into the concrete floor (main floor no one below). This was a round of 223 remington (not 7.62 x 39mm). Immediately I felt distortion in my head and the accompanying shock of hearing 150+ decibels going off within a 9 x 12 foot room.

It woke a buddy up and one in another room ran in. I tossed the rifle onto the bed (safety on) and declared I was OK. yada yada. I figured I was going to be evicted (I was moving soon anyways) and have the police confiscate the rifle.That tenderness in my ears persisted for about 3 days afterwards. I heard ringing immediately after the discharge but not really during the 'tenderness' period. I worked with a hearing specialist (sells hearing aids) and he told me to come back a week later to get my hearing tested.

I got my hearing tested a week later and both ears were within normal hearing range for an average adult. From about a week or two after the event I would experience short (1-4 seconds) ringing in my ears maybe once or twice every two days. Since then, sometimes I hear that low pitched ring and sometimes I don't. It's never really loud. Usually I don't. I was told that it's hard to determine how much damage I did to my ears- and that the effects could manifest years later.

I guess my question is this- with the half second 150dB gunshot and occasional loud metal music (100-110dB) (which never caused any hearing issues) exactly how bad have I 'effed up my hearing? I would imagine that I shouldn't be worrying as much because combat vets have come home with worse from war time- but I have to admit that I am ignorant on the subject of NIHL. I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback.

I kept the casing and made it into a necklace as a reminder and I always tie off/tape off empty magazines and check them before testing triggers. I have not, and do not plan on having a repeat of this event. Thanks.

-DNC89

**JenniferG** · January 9th, 2018, 07:38 AM

You're lucky you didn't shoot your eye out with that thing. My Mom's second oldest Uncle came back from WWI completely deaf from all the artillery shelling. I wouldn't worry too much about one shot inside of a house. I worked as a train engineer for five years and blew the horn at road crossings regularly when the horns were rated at 120db +. Later when I was a mechanic we had to check and lower all the db readings on all the horns on all of our equipment to 110db because of new Federal regulations but we wore hearing protection while doing all the testing. Still after years of working around loud rotating equipment my ears ring when it's all quiet. Not loudly but noticeably.

**bogey1** · January 9th, 2018, 09:19 AM

I did the same with a handgun in a car with the windows up.
I have tinnitus now but thats hereditary.

**scruff** · January 9th, 2018, 09:37 AM

This is Food For Thought for anyone who intends to defend their home with, for example, an AR pistol. Do you have hearing protection handy in the safe or wherever else you store the gun? Should you?

**free** · January 9th, 2018, 09:46 AM

My ears have been ringing for as long as I can remember. I often wonder what true silence actually sounds like.

**MARINE DIVISION TWO** · January 9th, 2018, 10:12 AM

YEP ! You will at the least have Tinnititis for the rest of your life no matter what any ENT tells you ! Medication,Surgery etc do not make the ringing in the ears go away,You will learn to live with it. Two shoots in close quarters 30 years ago gave me the ringing in the ears to this day after many different ENTs !

**wanneroo** · January 9th, 2018, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by scruff

This is Food For Thought for anyone who intends to defend their home with, for example, an AR pistol. Do you have hearing protection handy in the safe or wherever else you store the gun? Should you?

I have electronic ears right next to the gun.