superstrutter

Having tinnitus doesn't mean you can't hear. I can hear a turkey gobble almost a mile away. It is just a constant ringing in both ears, 24-7. I've had it so long, I've pretty much gotten used to it. I have high frequency hearing loss, but just about every sound we hear is low frequency. When I take a hearing test, my ears are already ringing, so I don't hear high frequency sounds until just about everyone else in the room can hear them, and they don't have earphones on. I can hear ducks no problem. I can hear a deer walking no problem. I sometimes find it hard what direction some sounds come from though. About the only sound I can't hear and wish I could, is a gobbler spitting and drumming. Other than that, someone with tinnitus can hear just about any and every sound in the woods. The real problem with tinnitus is that there is no cure, so if I don't start wearing protection while duck hunting, it's only going to get worse. Like most hunters, I just don't like missing any sounds. I've got to get a pair before my hearing gets even worse. About the only time I wear protection is when I'm target shooting, patterning, or sighting in scope. For you young people on this forum, wear protection early, so you won't have problems later. Don't be like me and keep putting it off. I will have a pair real soon.