Going deaf

[CBattaglia]

I have ear plugs but never use them. I swear my left side hearing is deteriorating. I have to imagine it is happening to most of you?

If only my wife slept on my left side, I may just roll with it

Seriously I have to use the ear plugs at least on the side two feet from the open exhaust.

[1795]

You are not the only one. Combining normal age associated hearing loss with a loud exhaust is a bad combination; unless of course you want to sell hearing aides.. I keep foam ear plugs in both of the door pockets for myself and any companion. Do not always use them, but there are times that it is necessary.

[Robert McLinden]

What?

[4pipes]

I get lazy using plugs also. Downloaded a hearing app and took the test......hearing is definitely rolling off after 1khz.

[505stang]

use the ear plugs, i have been racing with NHRA for a long time and have lost hearing because of my stupidity in not wearing ear plugs, my cobra is loud but nothing compared to a 1000 hp anglia that i drive as it is thundering down the strip. We even have it detuned to 800 plus hp and it will still make your ears hurt.

[Mastiff107]

Over 40 years as a cop, I shot every weapon imaginable, shooting at least 200 rounds per week, during the last 20 years someone issued us earmuffs. I rode straight pipe Harleys for 50 years and running the Cobra for 7 years. I've been in the drag pits and run drag boats. I'm 64 and never suffered any hearing loss. Of the hundreds of old Harley riders I've known over the years almost all had bad knees but never bad hearing. In the circles I traveled in it was believed that earplugs were only for synchronized swimmers. I think the whole noise/loss of hearing thing is like "gluten free".

[4pipes]

A real man.

[Mother]

Noise above 90 decibels damages hearing. That is where the Canadian Government pegs the no louder rules for any loud enviroments. I have driven loud diesels all of my life. I now wear two nasty heating aids that can be shut off when needed. Especially when the wife gets testy. We have been married 44 years.

[rodneym]

CBattaglia,
Take care of your ears. You'd lose a big part of the Cobra experience without them
I used to be a professional musician in my past life and hearing loss, as well as tinnitus, are things that can drive you insane.
I always plug up with the flesh colored ones. At the range I do plugs and phones.
Old age will get our hearing soon enough.

[347stroker]

Guys use ear plugs. Forty three years in a truck along with various hot rods and now a Cobra I can assure you I'm going deaf. Wednesday I am going for a comprehensive hearing exam and I know I'll need hearing aids. I just hope there is something for the tinnitus. Tom

[Paul F]

Originally Posted by 347stroker

I just hope there is something for the tinnitus. Tom

What - you don't like having a companion in your ears 24 hours a day. Oh the joy.

With an inheritance of hearing loss, I use earplugs or headphones for everything. When I ride the mower, use the saw, or use the hammer drill. Use earplugs. Protect your hearing.

Speaking of Harleys. We were on a trip from California to Colorado. I was wearing my bright orange plugs. The guys made fun of me. Halfway through the trip, everyone but one guy was wearing them. They found out that those long road trips are much more enjoyable with the earplugs.

Then there's the time I noticed my hearing was getting bad in one ear over a period of weeks. The sound was getting distorted. Then one day I woke up completely deaf in one ear. I thought well here it is, just like my father. After 55 years, I was deaf in one ear. Then the nurse pulled the wax out of my ear.

[ERA Chas]

Stop jerking around and get to an audiologist. Forget the he-man crap. Ear plugs for you is shutting the barn after the horse left.
Rodneym is right. Tinnitus is a *****.

[CBattaglia]

I did the hearing test app. Says I'm fine but I know I lost something. When I flew prop planes I had to wear ear plugs. The constant tone would effect hearing within a specific range if you fly without. At least for the most part the sound produced by the cobra changes. On road trips I definitely wear them, around town hardly ever.

[Savage J]

I always wear earplugs. Last summer I bought an inexpensive sound meter. At a steady state 65mph cruise the Cobra registers 107 decibels. At full throttle, third gear I get 117 decibels. The meter was held just in front of my face below eye level.
I tried a sound meter app for my phone and it didn't register high enough.
Gene

[bingo2]

I have an 80% loss of hearing in my left ear and tinnitus in that ear as well.

After serving in the military I had a minor hearing loss in the left ear; not unusual for right handed North American males.

I suspect the incident that caused my hearing loss was a very loud backfire from a large gasoline engine powered truck. It wasn't a loss over time, it happened within a week of the incident. That was about 20 years ago. I saw a couple of specialists, had an MRI....nothing unusual could be found. Both doctors said, "you'll have to learn to live with your condition". I have but, it wasn't easy at first.

Tinnitus is absolutely positively no fun. At times it is almost imperceptible and other times, it is very annoying.

Protect your hearing.

[Ron61]

I have always worn ear plugs for racing and when shooting. I had a hearing test last year and there was no loss at all. When I was in the military I shot almost every type of weapon they had at the time and was the only one to use ear protection. It is required as well as eye protection at the gun range here. My ears are about the only thing that still works on me.

Ron

[mdross1]

Funny how we all think about our hearing and the way we respond to protecting it. I loved side exhaust till I spent fours on the turnpike one day after that totally lost interest.
We have always loved loud RocknRoll, target practice, riding motorcycles, our muscle cars and drag racing.
My take on the subject is do not want to miss out on anything. These days when I know there is going to be a very loud noise will cover my ears otherwise open to the world.
Yes, I have slight loss in the 3 to 5k in right ear (52 yrs on Harley Davidsons) and tinnitus but no bother whatsoever.
We all march to a different beat and will do what we have to for peace of mind.

[RallySnake]

I was definitely losing my hearing years ago after my original cheap glass pack mufflers blew out all the packing. I went with Stainless Steel specialties for about 10 years and my hearing improved and I could talk with my rally Navigator much easier, too. However, the small tubes really killed a lot of power. A couple of years ago, I stepped up to the Classic Chambered mufflers and regained a LOT of power. I got long 32" units and mounted them with the inside scoops facing front. They are pretty quiet at cruise revs, but when you get on it, everyone hears you.

RS