Acoustic Trauma from Gunshot — Will My Tinnitus Stay Stable?

I have had tinnitus from acoustic trauma for 5 1/2 months from single gunshot after my rifle stock dislodged my ear plug and I didn't notice. I am worried about how stable it will be in the future from the damage. Right now it is very mild tone I do not hear in the daytime that seems to change from high pitched to hollow soundings.

Sometimes I have to close my ears to look for it which is good I think. There is also an electrical sound that is intermittent and varies in speed and loudness...this is the one I can hear during the day. At a few times it was all but gone.

Is this tinnitus stable moving into the future? I am terrified of it getting worse.

There has been a few times where there was fleeting tinnitus as a solid tone for 10 seconds or so. Worried that it will stay that way.

 

If your tinnitus changes from high pitch to low, I wouldnt call it stable.

I would call my tinnitus stable as it is now. It is at the same level almost every day from morning to night, and rarely changes, or spikes. That to me is stable.

If your asking if it can still change in pitch and volume then yes, as can mine. Your only 5½ months in and I, 7 months, so it can still change. yours will probably fade to almost nothing, or actually nothing in 6, 12 or 18 months

 

If you are shooting firearms you should consider doubling up on ear protection (plugs and muffs). I still shoot but I use silencers (I live in a state that lets me own silencers) and i stay away from high caliber ammunition.

The damage we do to ours ears is accumulative and can worsen if you do not take preventative measures to protect the ears. Even if you are doubling up on ear pro, you typically only get about 35 decibels of protection (the NRR is not additive) and if you are shooting fire-arms that are reaching about 150 decibels + technically you are still causing damage, because (if I am not mistaken) 120 decibels is automatic acoustic trauma along with bone conductivity.

I also do not go to indoor shooting ranges ever. If I do go to a range, it's an open range on a day where it is not crowded. You have to account for every other person using a fire-arm and the constant barrage of noise your ears will be getting.

 

I never shoot unprotected and had one mistake and this happened. I don't think I can ever forgive myself for it. I have sold all my guns except one since this and am a shell of the person I used to be. I know it's probobly permanent but I just want to figure out if it will keep changing pith and tone like crazy the rest of my life...

 

My cousin also got tinnitus from a single gun shot. It completely cleared in 2.5 years. Hamg in there. He went through a really tough time but now its gone.

 

You don't know how much hope that brings me today. I've beat myself up for months about it and stressed so much that I brought such a hardship on my family. I am trying to just relax but I have not done well this week. I have been praying for faith for months, but I keep doubting a good future. It is nice to here that it can get better. Thank you.

 

Hi @Jason37

I don't believe you have anything to worry about so try and relax. The fact that your tinnitus is low and you don't hear it in the day time is very good news. You will eventually habituate and even if you hear it at home or in quiet surroundings it will not bother you, believe me. It is anxiety and worrying over it that will make it louder so just calm down. At night use sound enrichment and don't sleep in a quiet room. Never use headphones even at low volume. You are in a good place and should be very pleased. Please read my posts in the links below. Forget about tinnitus. If you must visit tinnitus forums, which I don't think you need to, then keep away from negative thinking people and don't read their posts.

Enjoy your life. Keep away from overly loud sounds including using your rifle for at least a year. If I were you, I'd never use it again. The reason being, if external sound is loud enough it can reach your inner ear by bone conduction. No earplugs can stop this. However, if you use "proper ear defenders" then you should be ok.

My tinnitus fluctuates from: complete silence, mild, moderate and severe, and is quite stable.

Michael


https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/new-to-tinnitus-what-to-do.12558/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-a-personal-view.18668/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/hyperacusis-as-i-see-it.19174/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/is-positivity-important.23150/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/tinnitus-and-the-negative-mindset.23705/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/acquiring-a-positive-mindset.23969/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-ent-doctor-and-hearing-therapist.24047/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/inspiration.22894/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/can-tinnitus-counselling-help.22366/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-habituation-process.20767/

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/a-change-of-lifestyle.20643/

 

I've sold them all. I can't stand to look at them now.

 

Have you seen the studies listed in
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/spontaneous-recovery-stats-over-70-recover-3-studies.21441/

Many of those studies had soldiers who had acoustic traumas as a result of a single gunshot. Most of those soldiers ended up eventually recovering.

 

Try staying away even from moderate noises like that of a vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, blender, and hair dryer. Doing this might promote your recovery and help prevent T spikes.

 

@Jason37,
Im sure your tinnitus will calm down and you might get spikes and settle again to your base sound.
Don't blame yourself as things just happen.
My son had his ear bones removed when he was 7 and has hearing loss.
He has been to two family gatherings in Scotland on his girlfriends side whom he lives with and over the last two weeks been clay pigeon shooting.
I worry for him just incase he forgets using protection and even with it your not always safe.
He is now 22.

Love glynis

 

@Lesly
Very interesting - would you mind asking your cousin for more details - what he did after it happened , also how old is he ?

 

Did the tinnitus ever go away?

 

Hi @Jrblovsky... no my tinnitus did not go away. Some days I can hardly hear it and some days it's really loud. But the good news is it isn't much of a problem anymore. I actually left my job at hospital recently to take one as a site manager for construction. I only wear ear protection around power tools and such. You will eventually habituate... most do. I have met so many people with it in this industry from when ear pro wasn't a thing. Message me if you have any questions. I haven't been on here for over a year or so, but I thought I would just check on a few alerts...

 

That's really unfortunate. I had something similar happen except way more exposure. 25 shots in total. I took the earplugs in and out several times so I am not sure whether or not they did not seal each time or just once. Regardless, how long did it take you to habitatuate to the sound? Mine is so loud it honestly is making me suicidal. I have never had any issues with my ears prior to this but I dont know how one comes to live with this condition.