I have lost 65% of my hearing in my left ear. I blame a lot of that for failure to use hearing protection, not only when shooting but when operating power equipment. Now I walk around with ear plugs in my pocket. If I climb on a lawn mower rider, ear plugs.. start the push mower.. plugs, chainsaw.. Absolutely plugs!! etc. Its a pain when I have to constantly turn my head to understand what someone is saying to me.

I visited my father a few weeks ago. I'm old and he's older then dirt. And he's deaf as a post. He has these $4000.00 hearing aids that he is suppose to wear. But he seldom does. You know he's home because when you pull in the driveway, you can hear the TV, while still out in the car. But the most frustrating is when you try and talk to him and he will answer with the most off the wall answers to questions. Then we laugh at him and he gets mad.

If you have good hearing, protect it. That ringing in the ears is annoying later in life.