Deaf folks and guns.

[Bawanna]

I don't know how to do the poll thing and maybe just an open discussion would be more beneficial.

Looking for thoughts mostly anyhow. As of about 2 days ago I'm completely deaf, well about 98% deaf. I could probably hear a gun shot but that's about it. Doc says I have a infection in my ears and we're hoping what little hearing I had before will return. I've had this before actually worse but never lost my hearing completely. Fingers crossed it returns.

My question is now verbal cues both offensive and defensive are no longer relevant. In a bad situation with bad things happening a good guy verbally advising that he's a good guy would have no effect on me, only visual cues IE:badges, general appearance, my spidy senses, etc.

With my tremendous profiling skills I'm not totally unable to tell but at a severe disadvantage at least until it's legal and open season on dirtbags without just cause.

So here's my question.

Do I hang up my carry guns and become a sheep or keep them and only return fire if fired upon and I visually see and clearly identify the shooter? Being a get involved kind of guy, I'm going to have to exercise extreme restraint.

Another fear to be considered and this would actually apply with or without a CCW if I'm contacted by LE or business management told to do something and I don't respond because I don't hear the request. Could be compounded if they see or suspect I'm armed.

I've been at a severe disadvantage for quite a long time but even a little bit of hearing was beneficial, this total black out truly sucks.

Honestly I just like having a gun on me and even if the overwhelming opinion is hang them up, I might not be able to do it. Feel nekkid without them.

So pile on with your thoughts. Not looking for no sympathy here, I'm a professional derelict and it's just one more disability to meet for my employer if they let me stay that is. Non full functioning brain, can't walk, can't hear and eyes and hands are going to heck rapidly. I should be in management.

[muggsy]

Keep carrying and watch for visual cues as to a person's intent. The life you save may be your own. I have an uncle who is legally blind and he still carries. BTW, you've got to start taking better care of yourself. Good moderators are hard to find.

[Longitude Zero]

Keep carrying. Visual clues become HUGE. In order to tell others you are hard of hearing cup your hands behind you ears to indicate impairment or piont to your non-gun hand ear with you non-gun hand and shake your head no. That is only for officials and not just everyday joes.

Thankfully when on of you senses diminishes or goes away the others become hyper-sensitive with practice. Carry a busniess card that has the owrds I AM DEAF printed in large red letters on both sides.

[melissa5]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and sending kneemail for you. Don't stop carrying. If someone is pointing a gun or knife at you, you don't have to hear them to know they have bad intentions.

On the lighter side, when I saw your thread title I read it as "dead folks and guns" and immediately wondered what the liberals were up to now.:p

[JFootin]

Keep carrying. You are a seasoned CCW veteran and I trust that your judgment is sound. Remember, a better chance of getting struck by lightning than to ever have to shoot someone. You'll know what to do if it ever happens. Kneemail from me, too.

[johnh]

Keep carrying. Visual clues become HUGE. In order to tell others you are hard of hearing cup your hands behind you ears to indicate impairment or piont to your non-gun hand ear with you non-gun hand and shake your head no. That is only for officials and not just everyday joes.

Thankfully when on of you senses diminishes or goes away the others become hyper-sensitive with practice. Carry a busniess card that has the owrds I AM DEAF printed in large red letters on both sides.

Good tips there. I have a friend in the industry who's daughter is deaf. She does have cochlear implants to assist with speech. They do not help her hear noises around her unless they are very loud. Essentially they assist her reading lips. Having said that, I have participated in some force-on-force training with her. Given a group of civilians to select for my team in such events, she has always been high on the list. Her situational awareness is vastly better than most folks. I believe she is quite aware that she cannot hear threats, so every other sense is 100% focused on detecting them. She is also completely unaffected by the noise of battle--firing, yelling, foot steps, etc.. This keeps her very calm and focused.

So in my opinion, it is a disadvantage that can be overcome and given you know the issues it presents, you will overcome them. Do not give up your safety due to this. I hope that it will clear up for you quickly though.

[chrish]

I'd keep carrying too. As with any disability that people suffer, you'll begin to adjust and make use of your other senses (spidey or otherwise) and it'll all come back. Obviously you have to be more careful.

On this subject, not just from a disability, but if you think about an extreme situation of mayhem, it's gonna be the same. You might as well be deaf in the confusion, it'd be hard to tell the difference between a good guy and a bad guy in certain scenarios. Colorado theater for example, had some citizen been carry in spite of the stupid regs, and an off duty cop there as well. How's that gonna go down if the CCW draws first. Nasty. It makes me want to wear a big orange jacket with CCW Good Guy blazed across the back and front. I'm still 'concealed'...haha.

I had a bad sinus infection a few years back, damn docs kept telling me it was just a cold, wouldn't give me meds. I know my body and how it behaves better than they do. Anyway, it turned south pretty quick and by the time it got cleared up, it had killed my hearing on one side (temporarily thankfully). Mine came back w/ steroids and time. I hope you get cleared up soon and get back to normal.

[Barth]

I don't know how to do the poll thing and maybe just an open discussion would be more beneficial.

Looking for thoughts mostly anyhow. As of about 2 days ago I'm completely deaf, well about 98% deaf. I could probably hear a gun shot but that's about it. Doc says I have a infection in my ears and we're hoping what little hearing I had before will return. I've had this before actually worse but never lost my hearing completely. Fingers crossed it returns.

My question is now verbal cues both offensive and defensive are no longer relevant. In a bad situation with bad things happening a good guy verbally advising that he's a good guy would have no effect on me, only visual cues IE:badges, general appearance, my spidy senses, etc.

With my tremendous profiling skills I'm not totally unable to tell but at a severe disadvantage at least until it's legal and open season on dirtbags without just cause.

So here's my question.

Do I hang up my carry guns and become a sheep or keep them and only return fire if fired upon and I visually see and clearly identify the shooter? Being a get involved kind of guy, I'm going to have to exercise extreme restraint.

Another fear to be considered and this would actually apply with or without a CCW if I'm contacted by LE or business management told to do something and I don't respond because I don't hear the request. Could be compounded if they see or suspect I'm armed.

I've been at a severe disadvantage for quite a long time but even a little bit of hearing was beneficial, this total black out truly sucks.

Honestly I just like having a gun on me and even if the overwhelming opinion is hang them up, I might not be able to do it. Feel nekkid without them.

So pile on with your thoughts. Not looking for no sympathy here, I'm a professional derelict and it's just one more disability to meet for my employer if they let me stay that is. Non full functioning brain, can't walk, can't hear and eyes and hands are going to heck rapidly. I should be in management.

You still seem to be able to form complete meaningful thoughts.
So management is out.

I can't imagine being unarmed even as age takes it's toll.
The fact that you are contemplating the potential issues and situations
speaks volumes as to your competence with continued carry.

I would look more to appropriate firearms that will work well for you
with whatever shortcomings you have to weather.

For instance,
when my vision starts to get poor
these 410 pistols will become very attractive to me.

Hearing loss is a bad thing for sure.
But as long as you can think clearly.
And see reasonably well.
I can't imagine any good reason to disarm.

My hearing, if there is background noise like in a restaurant, is really bad.
Always has been.
Really loud music, no muffler cars and bikes and shooting without hearing protection.
I've gotten really good at reading lips over the years.
It's amazing how well that can work.

[MikeyKahr]

I'm with everyone else, keep carrying. I'd rather have you carrying than over half of the other students in my concealed carry class. Okay make that two-thirds. Nine-tenths. As you said, I would suggest extra precautions in deploying considering the situation, but you already know that.

All that said, if you really want to hang them up Jfootin and I could surely find good homes for whatever you are willing to give up. No charge for our time and burden. What are good friends for? :D

On another note I pray you regain what you had before the infections. Would a visit to a high-priced over-educated ear specialist be of any help? I might just know such a person but they are over 2000 miles away from you and out of your network.

[MikeyKahr]

I would look more to appropriate firearms that will work well for you
with whatever shortcomings you have to weather.

Phew, thank goodness, I thought Barth was going to suggest an HK for a second. :p

[Bawanna]

I feel some better since everyone seems to encourage what I wanted to do already. Means I must really be right or maybe wrong.

I guess I'm already adapting and have been as I note in my cubicle I have a series of mirrors, some even banking off one another where I can see up and down the aisle outside my cubicle to see who or what is passing by without moving my head even. Also when working on guns, my back is to the opening and there are mirrors there as well so I guess I'm subconciously planning anyhow.

Fortunately I still have no problem seeing the sights on my 1911, PM45 or any of the others (before the boat accident that is). I'm still good at distance, only need spectacles to read up close.
When the day comes I can't see enough to shoot I'll swap ends with the gun and swallow it with pride.

I'm glad the general consensus is not to hang em up, that would be hard.

[Alfonse]

I'm glad you didn't ask us to all start typing in caps so you could hear us better. I hope the infection clears up quickly and mends your hearing in the process.:)

[TheTman]

I'm praying for recovery of your hearing. I would for sure keep carrying, and pay closer attention to visual cues.
Most of us haven't had to draw our weapon in a "situation", and hopefully the chances of that happening won't go up because of not being able to hear clearly.

[getsome]

Hope you get to feeling better there Bawannadon and I hope when that infection clears up your hearing will return to what it was before...In the mean time I will be talking to the BIG GUY about it in my prayers and asking for healing and that he helps you with it....

I think you should only stop CCW when you can no longer lift your gun or can no longer handle it safely and hearing shouldn't be an issue...Remember even though a King Cobra is totally deaf he doesn't leave home to face the world without his fangs....

[Rio Vista Slim]

Bawanna,

My hearing has deteriorated over the last several years. While I've always worn hearing protection when shooting, my railroad employers were a little slow in realizing how many of use were becoming deaf due to huge machinery and locomotives.

Very recently I got hearing aids for both ears. Those things are very expensive, but as I've discovered over the last two weeks, I can hear many things now that I'd been missing for years.

Like others have said, you are rational, and like me, have been carrying for a long time. Were I totally deaf, I'd still carry. While the odds of needing a gun are quite slim, I never want to be in a position of needing one and not having it on my person.

Good luck, Bawanna. I hope you're able to retain some of your hearing. If you should discover that hearing aids would help, please consider getting them.

[Tinman507]

Sorry you're going through this Boss. Praying the infection clears and you're well again.

The real bummer of it is you won't hear the rumble of Jocko's Harley when he pulls up in front of your place.

[Barth]

Sorry you're going through this Boss. Praying the infection clears and you're well again.

The real bummer of it is you won't hear the rumble of Jocko's Harley when he pulls up in front of your place.

I think that's something you feel more than hear.

[Bawanna]

I've worn a hearing aid for many years. My right ear is has been gone for a long time so only the left ear. I've went thru the various sizes and now supposedly have the most powerful aid there is. Without it I was totally deaf. They do make a huge difference, especially at first.

I missed a lot, never knew the buttons on the micro wave beep when you push them. They are great for mechanical sounds that drive the normal person nuts, the voice is so complex it's much harder to amplify and maintain clarity.

I've though about cochlear implants but have been stalling. Get mixed reviews. Some say they have restored hearing to people deaf all their life, others like Johnh earlier in this thread say they provide a little sound help but really don't make a meaningful difference.

If what little hearing I had doesn't return, I'll have nothing to lose by trying them. Any help at all would be beneficial. Even if its just so the wife can yell and get my attention so she can make nagging hand gestures across the room or from the passenger seat as she tells me where to go.

It was a real experience yesterday visiting the doc and then picking up my prescription. My wife usually goes along as my hearing ear dog, I rarely go to a store, rarely when we go out to eat, she pays etc. She had a different doc appointment at the same time to look at her hand. Found out she has trigger finger! Never heard of that one. Kind of a cyst in the middle of her hand that makes her Hawaiin Good Luck finger numb.
Trying to get the required information across even though both the doc and the pharmacist know us was a challenge.
Realized I'd never used a debit card or credit card in these new fangled deals on the counter, I always just handed them the card, they don't do that anymore. Fortunately my share of the prescription was less than the 4 dollars I had on me so I didn't have to get a lesson on how to do the card.

Sometimes I feel so dumb ya know. Maybe that's where the phrase deaf and dumb come from? Sure is quiet here at work though. Real quiet.

[Bawanna]

Sorry you're going through this Boss. Praying the infection clears and you're well again.

The real bummer of it is you won't hear the rumble of Jocko's Harley when he pulls up in front of your place.

Somehow I think my spidy senses would alert me to Jocko's presence if he got within the 200 mile limit.
It would be nice of him to visit though. How many can actually say they've met the man, they myth and the legend.

[JohnR]

Sorry to hear about your condition, Bawanna. I'm sure your mind will compensate for the hearing loss if it's long term. The other senses will compensate somewhat. It will work out, don't hang up your guns!

[Starbug]

CAN YOU HEAR ME, NOW? :D:p Lol...

In all seriousness, I wouldn't get rid of your guns. Heck, now you don't have to shell out for ear plugs or listen to people snoring! This could be a blessing in disguise, lol. By the sound of it, you are adapting well to the various disabilities that are creeping up on you (the mirrors are a great idea). It is weird not being able to hear, I know. Back in my early 20's I came down with something that I no longer remember what it was, probably a bad cold that lead into a bad ear infection as a result of a sinus infection, more than likely. At any rate, I completely lost all hearing in both ears. It was annoying, frustrating, and really strange. My normal hearing is so sharp that I can hear dog whistles/deterrents, bats, and police radar before they switched to lasers. So it was really strange to suddenly hear nothing at all. Took a month before I could hear like I was underwater, and another month before I finally regained full normal hearing. Fortunately, since I know complete deafness runs in my family after 65 or so, I practice reading lips. One day I plan to take sign language classes and drag my hubby with me to learn too so that he doesn't have to yell to be heard during the years where I can barely hear.

So moral of that story is don't give up, adapt, keep a sense of humor (important!), and do what you can now to ease the transition should this turn out to be permanent. My fingers are crossed that this is only temporary. I'd also be tempted to kick the doctor in the shins for not giving you meds early enough to prevent this situation.

Hey, maybe wear a shirt that says "I'm deaf, easily spooked, and armed. Don't mess with me." Lol. Longitude Zero's idea of the business card is an excellent one. You can hand that to any cop that pulls you over, and any other situation where it would really be a good idea to let them know you can't hear them. Also, when dealing with cashiers at the store, do like my deaf customers do and with one hand make a hand gesture like you are holding an invisible pen, while the other hand is held like it is the invisible paper, and make a writing motion. That clues my co-workers and I in that you need pen and paper because you're deaf and this is going to be a written conversation. It's worked everywhere I've been. Or perhaps keep a small pocket notebook and pen with you, instead.

[Bawanna]

I like the shirt idea. I really am easily spooked even when I could hear a little.

All good ideas.

[Starbug]

Advantages to being deaf:
Fortunately, DVD movies come with closed captioning encoded into them so that you can still enjoy movies if you turn that feature on... which means you never miss part of the movie because somebody was talking. Also on the plus side, you can't hear the neighbor's party at 3am on a weeknight. Or the yappy dog next door that barks 24/7 and is never quiet. Or the rap music spewing from the car next to you (although you will probably feel the bass). You can't hear nagging, either!

Gotta look on the bright side. Every cloud has a silver lining, as the saying goes. Glass half full? All that stuff. I'll be in your shoes eventually, it's my genetic future with no way out of it. So I try to see the potential benefits so I won't be as bummed out when it finally happens to me. My mom is pushing 60 and already needs to be yelled at in order to hear anything.

[Starbug]

...if I ever find a shirt that says "deaf, easily spooked, and armed" I will send it to you. It will be funny and useful at the same time. Lol

[Bawanna]

Close Captioning has been my friend for many years. Have to make sure though. Still a lot of DVD's that aren't.

I also enjoy movies I've watched 20 times before when I could hear. I know the lines as well as the actors so I don't need to hear em.

Some around here actually believe Clint Eastwood contacts me for his lines. Gran Torino was one. Many said I could have been his stand in and wouldn't even need the script since they figure I wrote it.

I think they are misprofiling me.

[Nimrod]

Bawanna, I am truly sorry to hear about your hearing loss. This does not however take away your right and responsibility to protect yourself and those you love. From your posts, it sounds like you have had to deal with handicaps for quite some time, including poor hearing. Total deafness, and I hope this is not permanant, is just one more thing you must deal with. Again, from your posts, I think your have always handled handicaps magnificently. I think you will do the same with this.

I have been wearing hearing aids for 25 years. They are state-of-the-art but my hearing is only marginal with them. When I take them out at night, I am almost totally deaf. I still have a gun within an arms length. If I live long enough, I will probably be totally deaf. I have no intention of stopping conceal carry.

As long as your brain functins to give you reasonable and rational thought, and you can still reasonably control and fire a gun, continue to carry.

[Starbug]

Close Captioning has been my friend for many years. Have to make sure though. Still a lot of DVD's that aren't.

I also enjoy movies I've watched 20 times before when I could hear. I know the lines as well as the actors so I don't need to hear em.

Some around here actually believe Clint Eastwood contacts me for his lines. Gran Torino was one. Many said I could have been his stand in and wouldn't even need the script since they figure I wrote it.

I think they are misprofiling me.

I'd just say "yes, he does" and let them believe you. You might get lucky every night if they all think you know him. Think about the advantages!

They don't close caption every DVD? Oh wow, I though they did. What about your tv? Don't they all have to do it?

[Bawanna]

The TV is mostly close captioned except for some of the older movies etc. Some shows are far better than others for timing. Survivor is probably the worst I've seen as far as captioning goes, slow and leaves you hanging if a commercial starts, course with those people you really don't need to know what they are saying anyhow, don't know where they find them.

Nimrod? Could you define reasonable and rational thought. Some would say I've had no experience with either of those in many years if ever.

Funny up until about 40 I was a near normal walking dude, hearing was already kind of weak but everything else worked. OH well we deal the cards we're dealt.

[Starbug]

The TV is mostly close captioned except for some of the older movies etc. Some shows are far better than others for timing. Survivor is probably the worst I've seen as far as captioning goes, slow and leaves you hanging if a commercial starts, course with those people you really don't need to know what they are saying anyhow, don't know where they find them.

Yeah, Survivor is best left on Mute w/out CC anyway. Same with Jersey Shore (never watched it, but saw enough commercials and heard about it in other round-a-bout ways).


Funny up until about 40 I was a near normal walking dude, hearing was already kind of weak but everything else worked. OH well we deal the cards we're dealt.

I fully expect to start noticing hearing loss by the time I hit 50, possibly sooner. I should be well on my way to deaf by the time I hit 60, and completely deaf about 65. That's just the way it is in my family. Yay genetics. As you said, we deal with the cards we're dealt. We all get there eventually, some people sooner than others. Be it illness/disease, injury, or genetics. A good sense of humor about it will probably help make the whole thing suck a little less. If it makes you feel any better, my body began falling apart in my late teens. I actually lost the ability to walk because the tendons and ligaments in both knees degenerated during the course of one year, leaving my kneecaps to freely move about around the joint as they pleased. This meant inability to go up/down stairs/hills, inability to get up off the ground or out of chairs/couches. While walking my legs sometimes don't bend when they should, thus causing me to trip and faceplant instead. That's always fantastic. While doing intensive physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the kneecaps, I had to also come to terms with the possibility that I would be looking at a wheelchair in the near future. So far, no wheelchair. But I humor the possibility of that outcome by thinking about turbo charging it so that I'd be the fastest chair around! Lol. And other silly thoughts to make it suck less if/when it happens. Moral: positive thinking and humor is essential!

Oooh, hiking partner just arrived. Short hike today, then off to test fire my new CM9.

[PYROhafe]

Im with everyone else Super B! Keep carrying, and keep protecting yourself and loved ones! Heck maybe you and the misses can come up with a hand signal for "shoot this focker" just in case.
In the mean time, I gotta find a gun I wanna put some grips on before you totally go! I GOTTA HAVE SOME BAWANNA GRIPS!

[Bawanna]

Im with everyone else Super B! Keep carrying, and keep protecting yourself and loved ones! Heck maybe you and the misses can come up with a hand signal for "shoot this focker" just in case.
In the mean time, I gotta find a gun I wanna put some grips on before you totally go! I GOTTA HAVE SOME BAWANNA GRIPS!

Well that's a good sign too, me and the missus already have that hand signal, hers for as you say, shoot the focker, mine for get down I'm gonna shoot that fokker.
It's little stuff. She never walks on my right side, always my left. Usually beside or behind so my view isn't obstructed, although the view is much better when she's in front.

Now that she's carrying her gun she might try to bogart the action and be the first responder, I hope not but at the same time I'd be proud.

I'm ready to build ya grips anytime, you just say what fer and I'll say how many? I messed that up didn't I?

[yqtszhj]

Keep carrying B-man. All your other senses are sharp enough to make up for it.

Hey, I watched an old episode of the Rifleman I think it was. Chuck Conners was temporarily blinded and learned to shoot by what he heard. You still have eyes so carry and shoot as needed. If Chuck can do it so can you. :)

[olympicmotorcars]

I vote keep carrying also Bawanna. I will pray for your hearing to return also. You have always been super nice to everyone here, we are all pulling for you.

[MW surveyor]

So far everyone has said to keep carrying and I'm not gonna be the odd man out! KEEP CARRYING!

When I was really young, I had a very bad infection of what I don't remember but I do remember the doctor coming to the house. So now you know about how long ago that was. Either as a result of the infection or the medicine, my hearing went from excellent to not very good any more.

Was tested in elementary school and as a result was sent to lip reading classes after school for about 3 years. Got pretty darn good at it and no one really knew how bad my hearing was.

Didn't even try for hearing aids until about 4 years ago when I couldn't lip read a Dutch guy speaking English.

Anyway, hang in there and know that my 19 month old grandson already knows enough sign language to get "more milk and cookies". (Not sure of where he picked that up at.) Heck, I know you're smarter than a 19 month old.

[tv_racin_fan]

Keep carrying!

[muggsy]

Drop Rush Limbaugh a line. He has the implants and they restored enough of his hearing to continue his nationally syndicated radio show. What do you have to lose?

ElRushbo@EIBnet.com

[LorenzoB]

Keep carrying. I'll pray for a fast and complete recovery. And you pray for wisdom if a "situation" arises in the mean time.

And like PYROhafe... I'll start looking for a 1911 (that needs sweet grips) before you fall apart completely. ;)

[Bawanna]

Keep carrying. I'll pray for a fast and complete recovery. And you pray for wisdom if a "situation" arises in the mean time.

And like PYROhafe... I'll start looking for a 1911 (that needs sweet grips) before you fall apart completely. ;)

Let me know when your ready. I'm there for ya. Don't even got to be a 1911 but maybe not a Sig, those are tough.

[HalfCocked]

Sorry to "hear" about your problem. We travel the same road. I've worn aids for several years now. For the last two years they have been power aids which only give me a sense of noise in the right year and marginal hearing in the left. When I asked my doctor what else I could do he told me to learn sign language. I have done so and my wife and I can now communicate in crowded rooms or even across the room. I find it very frustrating to be without hearing. It is very hard work to have to pay so much attention to the world around you. To everyone's body language, to try to read lips, to scan the room constantly and always checking your 6. It is NOT true that other senses pick up the slack. Nothing does. You just have to work harder. Also you must keep your sense of humor. Do not give up your life! don't hide out at home because it is easier. Do not stop carrying.
For you guys who can still hear, always always protect what you got. I thought hearing aids would be like glasses, you put them on and your back to 20-20 hearing. It just ain't so. When it gone there isn't a replacement.

[Bawanna]

True on all counts. It's a lot of work.

I remember going to classes, like the few armorer classes I went to. Struggle to hear and absorb what the instructor says, then they take a informal break or tell a joke and everyone kind of has a little down moment, but not me, have to stay focused to see when he gets back on track so I don't miss anything.

It's tough but we do what we got to do.

[OldLincoln]

Well really, this sucks! You must have been really good in your past cause it seems that bad things happen to good people. Maybe you can get one those trained "Hearing Dolphins" to follow you around. Understand tho they are rather high maintenance.

Well, keep on carrying and set up mirrors to fill in some gaps. Maybe ask some LEOS what hand signs they would recognize when they order someone to stop or whatever. What about yelling at you from behind?

[Bawanna]

Well really, this sucks! You must have been really good in your past cause it seems that bad things happen to good people. Maybe you can get one those trained "Hearing Dolphins" to follow you around. Understand tho they are rather high maintenance.

Well, keep on carrying and set up mirrors to fill in some gaps. Maybe ask some LEOS what hand signs they would recognize when they order someone to stop or whatever. What about yelling at you from behind?

How am I gonna know? That's one of the scary things right there. Freeze mo fo or I'll shoot. Austa La Vista Baby!

[OldLincoln]

How am I gonna know? That's one of the scary things right there. Freeze mo fo or I'll shoot. Austa La Vista Baby!

How about a hat like this (http://www.zazzle.com/i_am_deaf_hat-148481207092370074) that says in large letters front and back "I'm DEAF"? I suppose you don't want folks to know but they will if they say something to you anyway.

http://rlv.zcache.com/i_am_deaf_hat-p148481207092370074bf3ey_400.jpg

PS: I meant how do the leos handle that situation now?

[Bawanna]

I've seen training scenarios where the the unknown guy reaches in his pocket usually when told not to and he comes out with a card that says he's deaf.

Sometimes they get shot, sometimes not. No way for the cop to really know. Its a tough situation and a bad deal for both the deaf guy and the cop.

[Brent]

Sorry about your loss of hearing Bawanna! MOST DEFINITELY KEEP CARRYING!!!!!!!

I'm not to the level where you're at now, but I do have severe hearing loss since a few months after my heart attack back in 2007. It can really be frustrating at times when I can't hear someone's voice all that well because of their natural tone or maybe a noisy background, but it's even more frustrating when I have to deal with people who can hear but don't listen. Patience is not my virtue, but I'm trying. :o

I'm for the T-shirt idea with the words on the front and back. May need to get a few myself.

[HalfCocked]

People who are born deaf have a hard time speaking because they don't have the voice - ear feed back to help them form the words. Going deaf later in life you don't have that problem. When I am stopped by LEO for traffic or whatever, the first thing I say in a loud voice is "Officer I am extremely hard of hearing, if I do not comply with your commands, I am not defying you, it simply means I did not hear them or understand them."
I don't reach for anything or move in anyway until they acknowledge. In the few times I've done that it has worked well.

[ltxi]

Way late to this party and do understand your question, but why in hell would you abandon carrying a defensive weapon just 'cause your hearing's gone? Understand feeling the need to be a bit more judicious but you don't have to use it...if you don't have it, you can't.

[Planedude]

I've gone gimmpy as of late and after thiry years of jets and rivit guns I'm working too hard on the deaf part too.
That said, I'll stop carrying when someone at "the home" has to feed my drooling, staring carcuss soup with a plastic spoon...

Good Luck Bawanna, prayers sent out for you.

[sierrajb]

Hey, My Friend! I had no idea you were facing these physical challenges. I will DEFINITELY pray for you.

Don't even THINK about giving up the CCW or your health. All of us are here for you. Take the advice of those before me regarding the need to identify your limitations before taking protective action.

The home is another case, however. All around our neighborhood homes with alarm systems have a warning sticker posted on all doors and windows to give potential intruders a fair warning. So, post signs about your physical limitations, your itching trigger finger, and that should cover your homestead.

Hang in there buddy!

[Bawanna]

Wells ladies and gents, boys and girls, great news for bawanna.

It occurred to me last night that in addition to the infection in my head maybe my hearing aid was not up to snuff. Nobody was complaining about the whistle feed back when I turn it up too high. Had my wife listen and it didn't whistle.

Turns out it's kaput too! For once I was thrilled to hear something was broken.

Guy gave me a loaner and mine is heading back for an overhaul. Also gonna save up and get a new one for a spare. They have an even more powerful better one he claims.

I still can't hear grass grow and it's still a struggle but the sign language, black board and cochlear implants can wait a spell longer. I'm a happy camper. Now if I could just find something I really want to hear beside a boss.

[MikeyKahr]

Well that is great to hear....Literally! :D An answer to many prayers, in a unique and roundabout way! Note to self: remind uncle B to check his batteries every once in a while! And you can hear my boss if you'd rather. Might remind you of your boss, just less Scandinavian.

[muggsy]

Bawanna, do you know why farts smell? It's for the benefit of those who are hard of hearing. If you had lost your hearing think of how much money you could have saved on hearing protection! (I always try to look at the bright side.) Glad to hear you can hear, no pun intended. :)

[Bawanna]

I have a stupid staff meeting in about 10 minutes, my least favorite thing in all the world. I've tried for years to get out of them but they just won't let me.

Nothing ever accomplish, bosse's just showing they are still the bosses and an hour or more of my work day down the drain.

Plus it's 9 women and little old me. Lots of fingernail polish and hair talk, not much gun and kuchri talking.

On the bright side there might still be time to make a SHOT show or something and meet all them people again.

Funny on that hearing protection, even being deaf a gun shot hurts even if I can't hear it. It's like a pressure thing or something?

[MW surveyor]

You need to tell your bosses that the male/female ratio for your division is not politically correct and they need to hire more males!

Good to read that it was a hearing aid problem combined with an infection. Some times I have to tap on mine to make sure that they are working correctly.

[Brent]

Funny on that hearing protection, even being deaf a gun shot hurts even if I can't hear it. It's like a pressure thing or something?

I was real bad when my hearing went. It eased up some after a few months, but there are still sounds that make it feel like an ice pick being shoved in my ear.:eek:

Good news on your hearing aid!!! :)

[GROTMAN]

Glad to HEAR things are on the upswing.. pun intended. If you get a new hearing aid I suggest this one.:)
http://cdn.lolchamp.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/selective-hearing.jpg

[Bawanna]

That's the first thing the doc asked me years ago. Could I not hear anyone or just not hear my wife.

He sounded like it was a pretty common ailment. I do use the off button quite frequently.

[Nimrod]

Great news Bawanna! Prayers do help!

[JFootin]

That's great news, kimosabi! :cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

[Starbug]

This is the best news I've heard all day! I'm so glad it was a faulty hearing aid battery.

As for your wondering about gun shots still hurting when you're deaf, yep it's a pressure thing. The sound wave is still registering on your ear drums, it's just not transferring the sound with it because the hearing sense organs (little hairs) within the drum have stopped functioning. But the drum itself still feels changes in air pressure.

[TD2K]

hang in there, and do NOT stop carrying!!! You need it now more than ever in my opinion. If the threat is there, you'll know, and you'll still be able to stop it.

one of my very first students at our "Girls Night Out" is deaf. She's a tiny little lady in her 70s and lives alone, she brought an older 38 special revolver to shoot and was determined to learn how to use it (and she's a pretty good shot). She comes to nearly every event we have, took my Basic Pistol class, just craves learning. She keeps me on my toes too. I have to go over everything at least twice. Once with her reading my lips, once with her watching what I'm showing her. She is truly a blessing to our group, we love having her there.

with all that said, with your background and experience, you'll be fine. I'd worry about you too much if you hung the guns up.

[Bawanna]

I should start a bawanna's ailment of the week thread. Gosh darned if I didn't have to go to the hospital at 4 am this morning feeling like I needed to have a bayonet removed from my lower back. I have a high pain threshold except for teeth but danged if I wasn't hurting.

Turns out I got my very first Kidney stone, actually guess I still have it. Guess I have some pain to endure yet. They finally gave me some magic potion that made the hurt go away and a bunch of Oxycodin (street value 80$ a pill).

Feel like its time for a complete rebuild but at least I got to hang out on Kahrtalk all day without work interruptions. Kind of foggy but still good.

Probably do the same tomorrow. Have a ton of sick leave accumulated, guess thats what its for huh? I always feel guilty though. Missouri work ethic I guess.

[TucsonMTB]

Ouch! I wonder if they can they break it up with ultrasonics?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/133237-kidney-stone-removal-methods/

Yeah, then you won't have a souvenir, but . . . ;)

[CJB]

Sorry to get into this late...

Bawanna, keep carrying.

I don't think your problem is one of inbound verbal cues, but inbound non-verbal cues - signs of danger that should get your Spidey senses tingling.

Increased awareness via visual input.... help keeping potential threats at bay.

If you think about it, the verbal cue is most easily faked. "Its ok, its ok" as they're reaching for theirs. Actions speak louder than words, you already know this.

In the gravest extreme.... the ability to focus visually is a plus.

In a lot of places.... home and out... a dog can be your ears, and your early warning to something not right.

God bless ya B-man.

[QuercusMax]

I have a stupid staff meeting in about 10 minutes, my least favorite thing in all the world. I've tried for years to get out of them but they just won't let me.

Nothing ever accomplish, bosse's just showing they are still the bosses and an hour or more of my work day down the drain.

Plus it's 9 women and little old me. Lots of fingernail polish and hair talk, not much gun and kuchri talking.


Wow, you really DO have a tough row to hoe! Maybe there is a tiny bright side to hearing loss...

My wife works at a mostly-female business, and I can't believe all of the petty squabbles and hurtful things that go on there. It's like an intense psychological battlefield for her every day. It seems that men and women actually are different, despite what the Utopian left-wingers would have us believe.

[QuercusMax]

And back to the original question:

Loss of one's hearing is a very difficult thing. There is the obvious loss of a key sensory input that we all rely upon to live and survive. But perhaps an even worse difficulty is that deaf or hearing-impaired people are often perceived as "stupid" because they *appear* to be normal, but often cannot partake in conversations. If a person has an obvious physical impairment, others will usually cut them some slack, but in my experience this does not happen for the hearing-impaired.

That said, I will venture a minority opinion here (as I often seem to do) and say that anyone with a serious hearing impairment should be extremely cautious about carrying a gun - if they carry at all - for the reason I mention above. With imperfect hearing, a person does not have all of the sensory perception of a normal person thus might lack some key clues about a developing threat and thus might misjudge the situation. Also the hearing-impaired person might be misunderstood by others, leading to an unnecessary escalation.

Just urging caution and common sense here.

Sorry for weighing in late - as usual, I don't have as much time to hang out here as I would like, for the same reason I don't get as much shooting time in as I would like.

[LorenzoB]

Great news! Too bad about the stone... they can be a real pain. ;)

Here is a joke just for you...

An elderly couple was attending a church service. About halfway through the wife leans over and says, “I just did a silent fart, what do you think I should do?”

The husband replies, “Put a new battery in your hearing aid.”

[HalfCocked]

Man Bawana, I think Plague of Locust is the only think left for you.... seriously, sorry about the stone. Hope you get back on the road soon. Maybe a little hearing humor....

6759

[Starbug]

Oh man, bummer about the kidney stone! I'd look into that ultrasonic blasting mentioned above by TucsonMTB. Hopefully it makes it far less painful and quicker to be rid of.

[Bawanna]

Doc said it was very small. Who knows when it'll go away. At least I don't hurt right now. I might go to work tomorrow, my inbox pays me every day I'm gone. Darn that sounds like a caring worker huh? We'll see what the morning brings.

[CJB]

Been there Bawanna.

First hurt, then the feeling I hadda pee, but I didn't

Finally after several gallons of water, cranberry and beer....

Out they came. Like little black pieces of coral! Instant relief.

[Scoundrel]

I'm going to chime in on the "keep carrying but be extra cautious" side of things, when your hearing does actually go and it's not just a hearing aid glitch + infection.

Sure, you're impaired. That just means you have to be slower to act while you make extra sure you need to. But that only applies in situations that are not obvious, and need figuring out. If a couple of thugs start harrassing you and after sizing you up, one of them pulls out a weapon and approaches you, you do not need ears to figure out what's going on.

It's your hearing that is going away, not your judgement (yet). The fact that you are even considering hanging up the gun belt because of physical impairment is proof that the mental side of things is still working. So keep carrying, and just be more reserved about drawing than you might have been before.

One thing's for sure - if you stop carrying, your ability to defend yourself and your wife is hugely impaired.


How many people that have been shot by police for not following verbal commands were in wheelchairs, I wonder?

[ptoemmes]

Bawanna...blasted stones or not you might ask the doc about pissing through a strainer so you can 1) know you are passing the bolders/sand, 2) they can be analyzed to see if it's a diet thing - like maybe too much beer. :eek:

[Bawanna]

Bawanna...blasted stones or not you might ask the doc about pissing through a strainer so you can 1) know you are passing the bolders/sand, 2) they can be analyzed to see if it's a diet thing - like maybe too much beer. :eek:

They got me doing that. I've drank enough water to float the Titanic.

They did say they were small compared to some, no need to blast em.

Guess I'm lucky, I don't drink much water, lucky this is my first time.

Had an officer here who drinks lots of water and they had to go in and get his. Guess it really hurt, I can relate to the pain part.
I think this infection in my ears and head isn't helping the situation either.

Guess I'm not a very good multi symptom tasker huh?

[HalfCocked]

they can be analyzed to see if it's a diet thing - like maybe too much beer. :eek:

I am not able to comprehend this idea of "too much beer" :001_tt2: Sounds vaguely like a Communist plot to me....

[OldLincoln]

Doubt if it was too much beer. Doc who went up my yang-yang and fished it out said Mexicans don't seem to have a problem with stones. Like you I didn't drink much water but I have in the many years since. Sigh, of course with the years comes the prostate thing so I drink a lot of water and tinkle a lot of water.

Getting old is not for wimps!

Had a thing cut out of my forehead yesterday and the doc had to go real deep to get it all. Now I have a large pressure bandage on my forehead and tell folks "I'm damn lucky it was only a 9mm. Anything more might have hurt me."

[TucsonMTB]

I thought the kidney stone thing was a hereditary predilection sort of like rocks in the head . . . not that there is any direct corollary, mind you. :D

[kahrnut1]

i eat lunch pretty often with a retired teacher who had stones and his dr told him to drink 6 beers in a short period of time. he thinks it helped him pass some. there are not many ailments where the dr gives you what you want

[bigmacque]

Bwanna, we've talked before: you may recall that my son was born deaf.

I think that if your hearing has really deteriorated to the point of non-existant, you will over time gradually develop compensation in other senses that will help put you at ease. Being already familiar with the need for situational awareness is definitely in your favor as wel.

Keep carrying, I'd trust you more than many that carry, regardless of how you feel about your perceived handicap.

[bigmacque]

One other item of note Bwanna: we have a friend that is late-in-life deaf, she lost hearing in both ears. She has added cochlear implants to both ears, and now hears like she did when she was in her 20's (her words).

You could consider that. The advantage is you can turn them off!

[Bawanna]

I'm definitely gonna consider those implants. I've often thought of doing the right ear since it's out of commission already and see if/how it works. Then if the left gets any worse I'll do it too.

Had to have a plumber out yesterday so anything that resembled money in my house is gone and a lot of what I make in the future is gone now too. I should have been a plumber.

Not sure how much my insurance will cover on the implants, probably part of it for sure if not all.

[HalfCocked]

Maybe the technology for implants has changed since I looked into it but I was told that you could not have hearing (not much anyway) in either ear to be a candidate. Also they sever something when they do the implant that makes it so there is no going back. If the implant doesn't work (and they wouldn't guarantee that it would) then you are left completely deaf.
Even though I am deaf in the right year I was told that it wasn't worth the risk to give up my left ear hearing...yet.

[bigmacque]

My son had some hearing in each ear, down to about 5% in the left and 7% in the right, and he just had an implant done and really likes it.

They no longer sever the auditory nerve, which is why in the early stages of cochlear's they were recommending that if you had any hearing at all to not go the implant route.

[HalfCocked]

Bigmacque: good to know. THANKS. Hard to keep up with medical advances these days....

[Bawanna]

It is good to know. I heard those same things. Used to be kind of risky. Also doing only one at a time was recommended.

I've heard before that it creates some sound but not clear enough to actually hear voice.

Also heard like mentioned here earlier that people who couldn't hear for years hear like they are 20 again. Course maybe they didn't hear for beans when they were 20?

Certainly worth investigation. Soon as I get some of these other maladies checked off the all ok list.

[bigmacque]

One ear at first is worth the effort.

Jim was getting tested the day they turned his on, and in the testing he twice raised his hand because he heard something. The first time was a toilet being flushed on the floor above him, the second was some paper rustling down the hall.

He's still getting used to it, but then he's never heard before - he was born deaf. But he's adjusting and starting to hear well now.

[Bawanna]

I clearly remember when I got my first hearing aid. The sounds so common to others that I never heard before. It was overwhelming for a while. The buttons beeping on the micro wave, the dishwasher background noise, wife nagging whenever her eyes are open, not just when I was looking at her.

For a person that's never heard at all before like your son it has to be a really cool thing.

It's sort of like the chair. I get people all the time want to take me hunting, make me feel like a normal person. For a person that has never walked, been in a chair all their life that would be a really cool thing. But I wasn't always in a chair and I hunted a lot, rifle, bow, muzzle loader and did much hiking in the mountains not hunting too. So getting put in a spot and shooting something and then watching while someone else does all the work and then have to get me loaded back up and out isn't appealing to me in the least. I would like to get out on the logging roads and back up in the hills more, I miss that but you get my point or lack there of.

[bigmacque]

I do get your point, and truly appreciate it.

I'm very proud of my son. He could have wallowed in the deaf culture, collected disability, worked menial jobs and accepted assistance .... and he adamantly refused to do so. He worked hard in school, got good grades, finished a Bachelors at a school that had a lot of resources to support him, then finished a Masters degree in a mainstream program with no resources - no interpretors, no note takers, just him, his fellow students and his teachers. He's fiercly independent and just not going to sit back and let anyone do for him something he can do for himself.

You two would probably get along just fine.

[Bawanna]

I do get your point, and truly appreciate it.

I'm very proud of my son. He could have wallowed in the deaf culture, collected disability, worked menial jobs and accepted assistance .... and he adamantly refused to do so. He worked hard in school, got good grades, finished a Bachelors at a school that had a lot of resources to support him, then finished a Masters degree in a mainstream program with no resources - no interpretors, no note takers, just him, his fellow students and his teachers. He's fiercly independent and just not going to sit back and let anyone do for him something he can do for himself.

You two would probably get along just fine.

Good for him. I do favor a never give up and stay out of my way I'll do it myself attitude. I'm quite certain we would get along just fine. If there was a weak link it would be me for sure.
The bad thing about deafness is it's an invisible handicap. A chair makes it quite obvious that you have a disability. Deaf people I know for a fact get labeled as dumb, rude, even mean. Some of my kids friends still walk very softly around me, co workers, and some of my wifes friends are the same way.
It's actually not a bad thing in that respect and maybe I'm a little on the wacko side but it's certainly exaggerated because I can't hear.

Even a blind person has a white stick, a deaf person is just rude.

Silence! I kill you. Immortal words from Jeff Dunhams terrorist dummy.

[HalfCocked]

For a while I wore a little badge that said "Hearing Impaired" People in "Deaf" community gave me grief because they don't see deafness as any kind of impairment. People in the hearing community just treated me like I was stupid. So frustrating.

[GROTMAN]

I clearly remember when I got my first hearing aid. The sounds so common to others that I never heard before. It was overwhelming for a while. The buttons beeping on the micro wave, the dishwasher background noise, wife nagging whenever her eyes are open, not just when I was looking at her.

For a person that's never heard at all before like your son it has to be a really cool thing.

It's sort of like the chair. I get people all the time want to take me hunting, make me feel like a normal person. For a person that has never walked, been in a chair all their life that would be a really cool thing. But I wasn't always in a chair and I hunted a lot, rifle, bow, muzzle loader and did much hiking in the mountains not hunting too. So getting put in a spot and shooting something and then watching while someone else does all the work and then have to get me loaded back up and out isn't appealing to me in the least. I would like to get out on the logging roads and back up in the hills more, I miss that but you get my point or lack there of.

Bawanna.. I know you have not always been in "the chair".. I don't know if it's anybody's business or not, or if too personal but can't help but be curious about what happened to put you there. If you don't want to say I completely understand and will MYOB ..but inquiring minds want to know! :)

[pudge]

Bawanna,

I came late to this discussion. As long as your ability to maintain your visual cues is intact, you should definitely continue to carry. You MIGHT not be able to determine the need to get into action as quickly in some cases, but if you have practice at dealing with life with even just poor hearing, you are already attuned to the need to pay attention to what's going on around you. That skill can continue to be honed to a very sharp edge. I would say that it's very likely that you may even already be more aware of what's going on around you than those of us who take our hearing for granted. My hearing is poor, but my main concern for myself is hearing but not hearing and seeing but not seeing. It's really easy for all of us to have our minds off in Arkansas somewhere instead of focusing on what's happening right around us. This not only applies to the need for personal protection from miscreants, but it also applies very strongly to us when we are driving our vehicles. We do that so much that we begin to drive subconciously, thinking about everything in the world but what's going on around us. And then we wonder why we parked in the trunk of the vehicle right in front of us!!!

I submit that, at least statistically, operating a motor vehicle on any roadway is about the most dangerous thing that any of us do, and we do it all the time everyday. We are in a great hurry, we are tired, we are angry, we are thinking about a jillion different things, some of which approach emergency status all the while we are zipping along trying to get somewhere as quickly as we can do so. Talk about a wreck looking for a place to happen!! So if you can still drive around safely in your condition, you can also carry your weapon safely. You just have to heighten your sense of paying attention to the matter at hand as much as possible, and leave off thinking about other things till you get there, so to speak. We all multi-task most of the time, but there are always priorities that we should move to the top of the list of things to do and pay attention to at various times and places. You still have those skills even minus your hearing. In your condition, you don't step off the curb without really LOOKING both ways more than once! And you won't pull your weapon without making certain it's justified. And even if you do get completely taken by surprise, wouldn't you still rather have that weapon at hand than not have it? Of course you would!. We all have limitations of one kind or another, and we have to make accomodations for them (if we are smart!). I don't know you personally, but what I know about you from your posts here, and the fact that you are concious and concerned enough to even ask the question tells me that you are likely well able to proceed with confidence.

[Bawanna]

Bawanna.. I know you have not always been in "the chair".. I don't know if it's anybody's business or not, or if too personal but can't help but be curious about what happened to put you there. If you don't want to say I completely understand and will MYOB ..but inquiring minds want to know! :)

I don't mind at all especially when inquiring minds want to know ya know?

On a beautiful sunny day May 22nd 1995 to be exact after pondering taking the day off to go bass fishing in my brand new to me Bass Boat complete with 150 pony motor on the back my Missouri work ethics overruled my common sense and I went to work. I was partners with another guy doing construction.
We were building a custom home for a transplanted retired LA County Deputy.
Went to stand up a gable end wall and the bottom kicked out on us and it came back over. I think we all dropped our guard thinking it would just slide off forgetting that a couple feet below was a kickout for a kitchen dining area. When it hit that it flipped over fast and hard. As luck or lack there of would have it I happened to be in the middle at the highest part of the wall. Everyone made it to a window hole or got clear. They say I almost made it but not quite.
Basically it folded me up like a pocket knife with my face on the floor between my legs, body apparently wouldn't bend that far.
Had I hit right in a stud bay or if we hadn't sheeted the wall laying down I probably would have been ok.

The lesson for the day is if your pondering going fishing or riding your bike and skipping work, by all means do so without hesitation.

On a humorous note the nurses took me by the job site as a field trip from the hospital. The retired deputy handed me a 45 and told me I was welcome to shoot hell out of the wall. I asked if there was anyone up there that I didn't like and he said it was all clear. I told him I didn't feel like wasting good ammo on just Canadian Plywood so I passed.
Good people. They couldn't handle the good life up here and sold a year or two later and went back to California. Hard to comprehend. Felt far worse for them than myself to be honest.

[GROTMAN]

Thanks for sharing. Amazing how your life can be just going along "swimmingly" and bam..disaster strikes. I'm an occupational therapist (hence the OT in Grotman ) and see it all the time. Not a day I don't go home and thank God for my health. Truly admire your attitude and enjoy your humor.

"The lesson for the day is if your pondering going fishing or riding your bike and skipping work, by all means do so without hesitation."

Will do and tell them "THE BOSS" told me too !! :yo:

[Bawanna]

After all these years I still clearly remember my two things each day, except the one day they added Psyc to the list which turned out to be a shrink, I had a ball with that poor guy. One visit was all that we needed. Hour of PT Physical Therapy and hour of OT Occupational Therapy. Couldn't tell the difference really both were mostly exercising. Much to my good luck I had been working quite regularly doing concrete and framing and all sorts of stuff so I was in really fit condition.

Didnt really need the exercise but the therapist were all very nice, all female while I was in the hospital so it was all good.

I'm still friends with a OT (guy) who I had after I got out. Nice guy, moved back to the east coast to marry his childhood sweetheart, good for him.

For anyone that don't know, nurses and therapist rule the day in any hospital. The Doctors are just visitors now and then or sometimes seldom.

[GROTMAN]

http://uberhumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/kKUv9.jpg (http://uberhumor.com/every-time-i-go-to-to-the-doctor)

[TucsonMTB]

The lesson for the day is if your pondering going fishing or riding your bike and skipping work, by all means do so without hesitation.
Those are wise words to live by . . . and I do. http://home.mindspring.com/~justsomeguy/icon_lol.gif

Thank you, kind sir! http://home.mindspring.com/~justsomeguy/thumbsup.gif

[HDoc]

Drop Rush Limbaugh a line. He has the implants and they restored enough of his hearing to continue his nationally syndicated radio show. What do you have to lose?

ElRushbo@EIBnet.com

Except that Rush lost his cochlea to prescription drug abuse, not exactly Bawanna's forte, unless there's something we don't wanna know:eek:

[HDoc]

I'm definitely gonna consider those implants. I've often thought of doing the right ear since it's out of commission already and see if/how it works. Then if the left gets any worse I'll do it too.

Not sure how much my insurance will cover on the implants, probably part of it for sure if not all.
At least get assessed for implant eligibility. Got any military time? The VA will pay. Got any serious noise exposure work experience on the federal, state or
municipal dime? You might qualify for worker's comp, even years after the fact.
Medicare pays for them under certain circumstances.
Find a practice that does A LOT of them. The technology today compared even with ten years ago is like the difference between black powder and smokeless ammo. The younger you get them, the better the outcome will be.