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We have annual hearing tests at work. Every year you have to answer some questions. My favorite is "do you have any noisy hobbies? (Firearms, motorcycles, etc.)"
I have been answering "no" for over ten years. Even though I ride Harleys, dirt bikes, and ATVs and have been known to ocassionaly fire a firearm or two, I haven't lost any sleep over falsifying my answer.
Back when CCW was issues by sheriffs (very rare) weld cty required a dr. sign off. Our (still use) did. Now where the kid went, i had to take her there one day. While waiting ,i noticed all the TELL US IF A FIREARM IS IN THE HOME propaganda shit. 12 hrs late she had a new pediatrician.
HUH, what???Quote:
Originally Posted by ray1970
I can look at your hearing test and tell if you are a shooter and if your right or left handed unless your hearing is totally gone. [Flower]Quote:
Originally Posted by ray1970
Perfect. Then there definitely is no need to tell doctors what our hobbies are :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jerrymrc
If it is not relative to my health care needs I don't answer the question.
But normal docs never see it. Even using protection it will show up over time.Quote:
Originally Posted by kidicarus13
Quote:
Ear shadow is a real effect for long gun shooters. Most indications are that the head provides up to a 15 dB shadow in high frequencies, so depending on the type of firearm and frequency of use, significant differential in hearing loss between ears could be expected. I performed a PubMed (www.pubmed.gov) search and found almost 300 research articles related to use of firearms and hearing loss. One study by Prosser, Tartari & Arsian (1988) looked at 133 railway workers who also hunted and compared them to 82 non-hunting co-workers. The workers who hunted were found to have greater hearing loss and this was typically in the ear that was contralateral to the muzzle of the firearm. A PubMed search will provide you with additional references.
Since the exposure is primarily impact/impulse, occupational exposure damage risk criteria is not applicable. According to Maj. Bob Eppens, Air Force audiologist (Hilltop Times, 10/21/2004), One shot from a .357 magnum pistol exposes the shooter to 165 decibels for 2 milliseconds, and is equivalent to 40 unprotected hours on the flightline. Other studies indicate that firearms yield peak sound pressure levels regularly exceeding 150 dB. Several websites show lists of firearms and their associated sound levels, including http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/hcp/NoiseLevels.aspx, which gives a good indication of the noise levels of a range of military equipment. Many audiologists refer to the asymmetry described in the question as shooters ear, with the ear nearest the muzzle blast showing significantly more hearing loss than the shadowed ear.
What about hearing loss from military service? Pistols, rifles and the engines on helicopters aren't exactly quiet. One of my six service connected disabilities I get 0% for.Quote:
Originally Posted by jerrymrc
My most recent doctor's office doesn't ask that, and Kaiser never had it on their forms that I remember. But, I had a few of the vegan treehugger docs while I was with them that tried asking that. I just told each of them no. Same answer I gave the one bitch who kept trying to force MMJ on me for my neck pain after a couple of rear end car accidents. What part of "my employer would fire me for it" did she not understand?
Depends on how bad it is. And I hear you on the MMJ. One of my doc's tried that years ago and was the same way. Look dear, I work for the DOD and get tested being in a medical facility......[beatdeadhorse]Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave
The clinic I went to after that one was Denver Family Medicine I think it was called. They asked the same thing, I basically ignored it but I had to turn my back to the doc one time to close a door and I was wearing my ''shove gun control up your donkey" shirt. Either way, I think the reason I think it hit me so hard was that I worked in medicine for 10 years, and never thought about the questions we asked people on a daily basis. Being on the other side now while having a chip on my shoulder has caused me grief seeing how people can be treated by pretentious medical personnel