twobone Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Anyone experience prolonged tinnitus from their caterham? I was on an all day high speed drive with the local lotus club and lost my earplugs. I should have asked my fellow club members to stop to get another pair or earplugs, but I didn't. My ears were taking a pounding. Then the next day I got on a noisy airplane. Now a week later and my ears are still ringing. Any advice (other then don't make that mistake again and pay more attention to previous posts about ear protection). How long do you think it will last based on experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomove Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Sorry to say but that is totally unpredictable. Many time noise induced tinnitus goes away after hours or days but sometimes it just stays. I have a tinnitus in my right ear for the last 20 years. Fortunately not too bad and often I just don't think about it. But it never goes away and so far there is no cure only some "best practices". And yes, there is an app for that... Good luck that it just goes away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Mine has been 4 years so far(:. Happened on 1st long blat. Right ear only. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian7 Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 This is only of value to others at this point, but 25 years of racing has taught me to keep several pairs of foam plugs in glove boxes, door pockets, briefcases, toolboxes, etc. I bulk-buy them in a box of 50 pairs, and spread them around liberally the day I buy them.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W. Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I suspect my tinnitus is permanent. I've had it at least since 2005. Left ear worse than right. It's a high pitched turbine whine that pulsates with heart rate. Not quite, but almost, annoying enough to keep me from falling asleep at night. I self-inflicted it either during the Locost 7 build, grinding, etc. or when driving it. I think the wind buffeting (high pressure spikes) is as bad as the elevated dB. It's too late, but I have foam ear plugs in all my 4 roadsters, including the the factory built ones. Extended cruising is with windows up in the 2 cars so equipped. I use the muff type protection in the garage for tool usage including shop vac, grinding, band saw, drill press, metal hammering, planishing, and outdoor for mowing, trimming, etc. I don't want it to worsen. Take measures to prevent further damage. I hope yours improves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexasS2K Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Mine lasted for 3 years in my right ear after the first year of 1 Lap. Actually the damage occured in the first 3 or 4 hours. We had no ear plugs when we started the journey we picked some up when our ears were ringing and hurting. It was to late. 7evin and I have permanent hearing damage in the right ear from that day. Mine is significant enough I have a hard time talking on a phone on the right ear. I would recommend seeing a hearing specialist to get it checked. You dont want to wait to long to fix damage if there is any physical damage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athens7 Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Mine started last fall. The ENT doctor says I have some slight hearing loss in both ears around the 4000 (mHz?, kHZ?, ear hurts, whatever) range and the ringing is the result. Worse in the right ear than the left, with some pulsing in the right ear when I bend over (like Jon W's). He says learn to live with it. Now (too late), I use ear plugs on any ride longer than 15 minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondo Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I can't stand wind noise as it distracts me, so luckily I've worn earplugs since the beginning. That being said, I'm sure I've lost some hearing due to riding in fire engines before they gave us headsets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitcat Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Wear ear plugs AND ear muffs. I used foam plugs on the 700 mile blat that screwed up my hearing. Since adding ear muffs, no problemo. I was 60 on that trip and I think my (ahem) advanced age made my ears more vulnerable. My tinnitus (Pn:tin-uh-tis) is mild. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobone Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share Posted June 14, 2011 Thanks will do. I'm looking for a set of cool army surplus earmuffs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedwagon Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 I used to have tinnitus, but any hearing aid will tend to mask it and even at night when you are not wearing them it seemed to stay away, my current aids are designed with an adjustable tinnitus masker built in. an added advantage is that with a closed fit they act like electronic muffs in that you do not hear the loud noises, they are limited in volume by the program so that no protection is needed. I can fire my 44 without hurting and my hearing has gotten no worse in 20 years. Most of you who are old enough to want or afford likely already have some hearing loss and the sooner you get them the better. Hearing again is like learning a new language, the data is there but it sounds different. if you have good hearing, buy good protection!! it is the long lasting drone that gets you, ear plugs that allow you to hear at all don't get it, find something that shooters use and spend like you would on a helmet, you WILL be exposed to noise in a 7 but how likely is it that you will roll? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twobone Posted June 14, 2011 Author Share Posted June 14, 2011 Should look pretty good in British racing green to match my Caterham colour scheme. Just bought on ebay UK with shipment to my door for $30 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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