Hearing Loss and Tinnitus After Indoor Shooting Incident

[rugman46]

I made the mistake of forgetting to pull down my headphones before starting to shoot my 9mm pistol at an indoor gun range. I fired 10 rounds before putting them on. When I got out, I couldn't hear anything.

It's been 7 weeks now, and my hearing has improved only slightly. I have fluttering in my ears when I yawn, burp, or swallow, and everyone's voice sounds distorted, like a broken speaker. I went to an ENT, who told me that recovery can take a long time.

I'm frustrated because it's hard to communicate, and the tinnitus is constant. Has anyone else been through this? What are my chances of getting my hearing close to what it was after 7 weeks?

 

[Jupiterman]

A sad story.

 

[Saba]

I was at an indoor gun range and had inadequate earmuffs. The people in the next stall were shooting, and as soon as I removed my earmuffs, my ears started ringing. I experienced vibrations during conversations that disappeared after about three days. My anxiety made the episode worse, and the tinnitus became very loud.

I eventually had to get hearing aids with sound therapy and chose Widex. This truly saved me from mentally crashing. I also started taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication about six months after the incident. I first tried Amitriptyline, but it seemed to make the tinnitus louder, so I began taking SSRIs and Klonopin six months later.

I had muffled hearing, and the tinnitus was more noticeable at home than anywhere else. I still have sound intolerance and carry hearing protection everywhere. For a long time, I surrounded myself with silence—no piano, lawn mowing, or using loud equipment like a leaf blower. If you check my other posts, I've listed what I currently do.

I can tell you it gets better, but it takes time. Don't give in to negativity; everyone is different. Good luck with your progress. I'm now at month 19 and managing with new boundaries.