Hearing Impairement Question

[dontbounce 0]

I damaged the hearing in both of my ears firing 2000 rounds through a .50 cal machine gun in Korea. Does anybody know how the noise of the Otter/Free fall/etc can damage hearing after long term exposure?

Also, how loud are audibles? My hearing loss (10% in 1 ear, 20% in the other) doesnt mean I can't talk in a normal conversation, I just have a hard time hearing in a busy office, or a fast food joint with poor acustics?

Does anybody use active hearing protection, such as plugs, etc when jumping?

God only gave me one set of ears, and I want to take care of them, and avoid the unsightly hearing aid for as long as possible...

And no jokes about "talk into my good ear, honey". I am only 31.

[popsjumper 2]

Lots of people use disposable earplugs and they do help.

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[NWFlyer 2]

Most folks who use earplugs use them on the plane then remove them right before jumping - it could potentially affect your ability to equalize if you don't remove them.

Audibles are fairly loud, especially the "final" beeps. If you're concerned about your ability to hear one, you may want to borrow before you make a decision to buy one.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[GravityGirl 0]

The new Solo Dytter seems to be louder than the Pro Dytter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[kelpdiver 2]

in a good or bad way?

[GravityGirl 0]

I don't have a hearing problem, other than selective hearing. I think it's in a good way.

I would like to hear them side by side. I'll go do a practical test and get back to you. It's raining right now, so don't hold your breath.

Has anyone else tried jumping with a Solo and Pro Dytter at the same time?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Peace and Blue Skies!
Bonnie ==>Gravity Gear!

[jonstark 8]

I too want to keep what I have left. I use disposable plugs religeously. I don't wear a helmet but suspect they are also very effective at limiting the amount of damage caused by the noise of freefall. Wear them in the plane and while if FF.

You'll have no problem hearing a ditter in FF. Those dadblamed things are too loud anyways.

[firstime 0]

noise of the Otter/Free fall/etc can damage hearing after long term exposure?


I am also hearing impaired (can't hear a dytter in freefall)
I was told that freefall is approx 120 decibles and at that
rate you will experience high frequency loss and speech
threashold loss (unable to correctly determine prefixes
and a suffix of a word. Wear ear plugs

[bmcd308 0]

>>I am only 31<<

When I read that you operated a 50 cal in Korea, I aasumed you were a little older... my dad was fortunate not to have to operate his M1 in anger in Korea.

Brent

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www.jumpelvis.com

[dontbounce 0]

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>>I am only 31<<
When I read that you operated a 50 cal in Korea, I aasumed you were a little older... my dad was fortunate not to have to operate his M1 in anger in Korea.
Brent

Your dad was a tanker huh? Good people!

Yeah, shooting at plywood tanks while sitting on a real tank. :) Fun for sure, but now I am half deaf. It's not so bad, it can actually come in handy 4 days per month (if you know what I mean)

[dontbounce 0]

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You'll have no problem hearing a ditter in FF. Those dadblamed things are too loud anyways.

What about a protrack? Same thing? I saw somewhere they have cool graphs you can print out...

[dontbounce 0]

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I was told that freefall is approx 120 decibles and at that rate you will experience high frequency loss and speech threashold loss (unable to correctly determine prefixes and a suffix of a word. Wear ear plugs

Yikes, that is my problem now, I dont want to make it worse...

I noticed my ears rang for days after jumping, but at the time (while in free fall) I didn't really notice how loud it was (had other things on my mind). I will pick up a good pair of plugs and try it in the plane and FF. If my eardrums can't equalize then I guess I will use them on the plane only.

THANKS ALL!

[popsjumper 2]

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....It's not so bad, it can actually come in handy 4 days per month (if you know what I mean)

I'm with ya' on that one!

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[jonstark 8]

The squishy foam ones will allow your ears to equalize just fine in FF...

The go thru the wash just fine too. They get pretty nasty after a few weekends.

[OSOK 0]

Are you planning on getting a fullface helmet as soon as you can? I'm not sure if you're allowed to wear one or not where you are, but they pretty much block out all noise from freefall.

Also, is the rapid change in air pressure a problem for you?

[mx757 4]

Lasen & Brussgard now makes the Optmia with optional LED or LCD visual display. They send us a bunch of them to test at our Deaf record jumps last October 2005. they were great. Everyone loved themThe optima is avaliable now but the optional LED or LCD isn't available yet .

L&B sent me one of their protypes to use until they come out which should be about now.

[tustinr 1]

I remember reading somewhere a couple of years ago on the effects of both engine noise and the wind in freefall on hearing over a long term. It does cause damage and may lead to significant deafness.

A full face helmet is really effective in freefall with regard cancelling out the wind noise and has the added advantage of making the audible sound a lot clearer. Likewise if you wear the helmet in the plane there is also a significant noise reduction however it is uncomfortable. Earplugs will do.

I can't quite work out why anybody would want to freefall without a frapp or helmet - damage to the ears is irreversible.

Cheers
Rich

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Everything that happens to you in life is your teacher. The secret is to learn to sit at the feet of your life and be taught.

[dontbounce 0]

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Are you planning on getting a fullface helmet as soon as you can?

Yes, The next time I see an 80 year old lady using the ATM Machine, or if the Columbians call me back about making a "run" for them. I have a hard enuff time paying for AFF... Freefall costs me about $2.50 / second

Maybe I can knock off a few liquer stores... Jeeze, when did I become a junkie? LOL

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Also, is the rapid change in air pressure a problem for you?

Yes. My first jump, I thought the whole right side of my head was going to explode. It felt like somebody parked a truck on my head. My wife told me two squeeze my nose and blow, and it made a weird noise inside my head "ssssssst" and "POP!" it worked (the most excruciating pain I have felt in a long time) I don't think the problem was related to my hearing loss. I was fighting a head cold.

It is still worth it though...

[kelpdiver 2]

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My wife told me two squeeze my nose and blow, and it made a weird noise inside my head "ssssssst" and "POP!" it worked (the most excruciating pain I have felt in a long time) I don't think the problem was related to my hearing loss. I was fighting a head cold.

done too forcefully, that clearing technique can rupture the eardrum. Swallowing with your mouth closed or wiggling your jaw (focus on the ear side) is softer form, but may not be enough.

Jumping with a cold is asking for pain - that may be the source of the days of pain, not the noise of the plane.

(depends on the plane too - I don't like to jump caravans or Skyvans without earplugs, but most of the others seem ok.

[mdrejhon 8]

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Lasen & Brussgard now makes the Optmia with optional LED or LCD visual display. They send us a bunch of them to test at our Deaf record jumps last October 2005. they were great. Everyone loved themThe optima is avaliable now but the optional LED or LCD isn't available yet .

L&B sent me one of their protypes to use until they come out which should be about now.

I tested one of these LED altimeters. Please let me know, I really want one of these sometime this year.

[rickjump1 0]

Shooting and turbines ruined my hearing long ago. I gave away my older ditter to an old guy like me at Couch Freaks last summer. This old guy apparently could still hear it in freefall. Noise cancellation headsets are available for pilots and now noise cancellation earphones are here for the general public. Having noise cancellation earphones in a skdiving helmet might work if such a helmet was available or rig your own. For now, the Optima with the led or lcd visual display might be the way to go.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[DanglesOZQld 0]

I don't think freefall noise would be all that bad and would be against having something stuffed into them in FF!

The aircraft makes the most noise. I have been in a noisy factory for ten years and skydiving for more without much protection. I WOULD recommend at least a pair that you could wear around your neck and not worry about prior to the jump.

I am sure there are a lot of experienced opinions out there ;)

PS- I too suffer from pressure problems in a mild way but the clear technique seems to work most of the time. I know now to do it hard then back way off just when you feel it about to clear. Blowing hard beyond the "clear point" hurts much more than doing it as gently as possible when you know it is near ;) Just my .0000001 (converted from Aussie to US) cents worth...................

BSBD! -Mark.

"A Scar is just a Tattoo with a story!!!"