Shopsmith Forums

The only time that it is this quiet around here is when I first get up in the morning, while I am having my first cup of coffee.

My hearing aid has gone south. I have no hearing in one ear and very little in the other. The doctor tells me that it is most likely due to my exposure to jet noise from the engine test stands. The Air Force and VA tell me that it is not service related therefore the hearing aid is mine to pay for.

Some say, " silence is golden"!

Dusty, you probably knew what they'd say. Worth a shot, anyway.

I have the same issues. I have bad hearing in my right ear and worse hearing in my left ear. Mine is because I spent a year in Vietnam with a Marine artillery regiment. The big guns pretty much mess up your ears.
But, I decided to just live with it. I haven't had decent hearing for over 48 years, so I'm used to it now. The VA would likely give me the same run around, so I choose to live without hearing aids.
I have found that at least 90% of what people say isn't worth hearing anyway.

Like Dusty, I was around operating jet engines a lot. But only for 6 years.
They tested my hearing when I enlisted and when I mustered out. The tests results were the same both times so, I'd stand no chance of any VA help for a hearing loss.
As far as I'm concerned, my hearing is just fine. But, my wife claims I have selective hearing. She's probably right.

I'm told any sound above 85 db does damage to the ear. In today's society that believes louder is better there are thousands of sources for noise reaching the ear at or above the 85 db level.

Anyone attending a concert, sporting event, firework display or even a commercial movie theater today will probably be exposed to higher level.

Hearing is very precious and we need to protect it. My heart goes out to the youth today that expose their hearing to noise that is damaging their hearing. Ignorance is bliss and they are totally ignorant of what they are doing to their body.

Funny thing is you can tell people they are damaging their hearing and they look at you as if you are the idiot.

I protect my hearing as best I can and will get up and leave never to return any venue the exposes me to loud noise.

Time of exposure to 85 db is a variable. Most gas powered lawnmowers are at 90+ db. Good enough reason not to mow.

Gene Howe wrote:Time of exposure to 85 db is a variable. Most gas powered lawnmowers are at 90+ db. Good enough reason not to mow.

Convinced me!

Interesting about the VA. I have a documented hearing loss. Mine came from 24 years on the flight line. The VA recognizes mine as a disability but non-compensatable. However it is in my VA records. I don't need hearing aids but always thought when the time came I could get them from the VA. It may be due to the fact that I am 10% VA disabled. Because of that 10% I get free eye exams and glasses from the VA. I think hearing aids fall in the same category.

jsburger wrote:Interesting about the VA. I have a documented hearing loss. Mine came from 24 years on the flight line. The VA recognizes mine as a disability but non-compensatable. However it is in my VA records. I don't need hearing aids but always thought when the time came I could get them from the VA. It may be due to the fact that I am 10% VA disabled. Because of that 10% I get free eye exams and glasses from the VA. I think hearing aids fall in the same category.

Hopefully this works for you. It does not for me. It may all boil down to what was in our records when we discharged. Strangely enough, I was on flight status when I completed my discharge physical. If I had a hearing problem at that time, one would think it was documented. Maybe getting discharged with a clean health recorder is not good.

Oh well. That was a LONG TIME ago. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.