What would you do? Fireworks and hearing loss

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79sunrunner

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Two friends and I decided to finish up a car I was restoring at one of the friend's shop. We can call these two friends Bob and David. David is the shop owner and we are almost done completing the car with the engine now back in and running just a week ago. Then on Wednesday (7 days ago) a few of Bob and Dave's friends saw we were at his shop and stopped by. One of them has been known to be very rowdy, we can call him Stephan, but I had no idea what happened next.

As we are cleaning up (I take Bob and Dave to dinner as part payment, even though they aren't charging anything). I walked into the washroom to clean my hands when Stephan threw firecrackers into the room, as I scrambled to not get burned, the noise went off and my hearing stopped completely for 15 seconds. I had no idea the hearing actually died off for a short time like in the war movies, but after that I can confirm it. Since, the ringing has not stopped, and is a constant underwater sound along with terrible pain, especially in the right ear.

In need of a doctor, I was wondering what cost saving choices are out there. maybe Walgreens has a option? I work for my father, but has been holding my pay checks since I started school again, and too, I am praying that this will not affect my schooling, since I am studying to be an airline pilot, and in need of perfect hearing. Has anyone else dealt with a hearing issue like this before?
 
There are clinics in walgreens or costco where they do hearing tests. This is intended as a place to sell hearing aids, just like you get eye tests at glasses stores, so if you don't know if your walgreens/costco has this; do a search instead for hearing aids stores in your area.

I'd start with that; as the hearing test shouldn't be overly expensive, as compared to seeing a full-on specialist medical doctor.

But you get what you pay for, and you maybe just getting advice from an audiologist that may not have the background, they may just give you some general advice then say: you need to go see a specialist.

Just like if you have a nail in your eye, lenscrafters might not be the place to get medical advice on that.
 
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Also if you are short on cash;
you should go back to bob and david, and ask them if they can help pay for your hearing test. It's the least they could do.

Depends on how you ask, there is some social tact and ways to do this, without destroying your relationship.
 
This guy is an idiot...you need better friends...friends who don't cause permanent physical damage...you need medical attention. This sounds more like damaged ear drum than hearing loss. Sooner is better than later.

Now, for the future: You do not need perfect hearing to be a pilot.

The FAA standard is "Demonstrate hearing of an average conversational voice in a quiet room, using both ears at 6 feet, with the back turned to the examiner or pass one of the audiometric tests"
 
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If you can tell you aren't hearing well and are having pains in that ear, a hearing test at Walgreens doesn't help because it just confirms what you already know.

Get an appointment at an ear, nose and throat specialist. If you don't have insurance and are low on cash, inquire in advance about the cost paying with cash and you may be able to get a better price. Call a few different doctors to see if there is much of a price difference.
 
Acoustic trauma (a sudden very loud noise) can cause a temporary or even permanent loss of hearing acuity. If there is a loss and if it is persistant, it will show up on an audiogram (hearing test). This loss would most likely be due to damage to the hair cells of the inner ear, or possibly (though less likely) damage to the eardrum. There are other less common problems as well, like disruption of the ossicular chain (the little bones of the middle ear).

Pain in the ear in this situation is unusual and suggestive of damage to the eardrum.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) sometimes accompanies a loss of hearing.

A good place to start is with an audiogram, preferably done by an audiologist. If a problem is identified, the audiologist can suggest what to do next. Alternatively you could see an ear nose and throat specialist. In any case this is something that should be checked out, and the sooner the better.

Meanwhile you should take care not to get water (or anything else) in your ear as, if you have a ruptured eardrum, you could get an infection started.
 
Does the "shop owner have insurance? That would be great. The stupid ones walk around us daily and you discovered a really stupid one. Ed
 
My father was boxed on the ears in his youth and at 75 has tinnitus. Go to a specialist, get documentation and treatment. Shop for price if you have to, but get treated even if you have to make payments.
 
I'd get checked for a ruptured eardrum. Tinnitus doesn't come with pain. Ruptured eardrums heal, but permanent tinnitus is miserable. I have it along with hearing loss.

You need an urgent care visit at minimum
 
Is your question based around what happens after you beat the jerk senseless ?

I've had that total loss twice, and it's terrifying to hear what starts as a bang, cuts off, then nothing, for what feels like forever.

The pain, I'd suggest is mechanical damage, I'd get it looked at.

The ringing might last a day or two...or a lot longer. Mine went away, but I've got tinnitus now, which could be related, or 25 years in power stations.

(as an aside, had my hearing tested a few weeks ago, perfect up to 6KHz, and 15dB loss 6KHz and up...which is good for my age, and exceptional for my age in my industry).

There's a pretty good chance you'll be right, but get the pain looked at ASAP.
 
Because of the pain in your ear (which is unusual), I don't think it would be a good idea to rely on an audiogram from a "hearing aid place" to sort this out.

An audiologist is trained to interpret the history, what they find when examining and doing tests on the ear, and what they find on the audiogram. An ear nose and throat specialist does all of that as well. Considering that you have pain, an ENT specialist might be the better place to start.

In any case, this is something you must get checked out. Let us know what is found.
 
Originally Posted By: Astro14
This guy is an idiot...you need better friends...friends who don't cause permanent physical damage...


That's exactly what I was thinking...
 
If this gets into your medical record, it may affect your future employment prospects if they ask for past medical history.

Research this before leaving evidence of this incident.
 
Originally Posted By: Alfred_B
If this gets into your medical record, it may affect your future employment prospects if they ask for past medical history.

Research this before leaving evidence of this incident.

Don't think I'd worry about that. Almost everyone has a few wobbles in their medical history.

The relevant question is - "can you meet the medical requirements for the position?" Not - "do you have a history of things that might have had an influence on you capacity to meet the medical requirements for the position?"

In most places the occupational physician reports to the emplyer on whether a person meets the requirements for the position offered, and if they don't, what accommodations would be required. The way the report is structured will vary by jurisdiction. An occupational physician would never report, "meets current job requirements, but there was this episode back in '15 which might have ..... ".

And getting that ear properly attended to is way smarter than trying to keep your history under wraps.
 
Go to a doctor or an ear specialist and get this looked at.
When they ask how it happened, tell them exactly how it happened and then your "friend" Stephen will be liable for the bill and any other charges that it takes to get you healthy. It seems that people don't really care about anything until they get hit in the pocketbook.
And then get yourself some new friends.
 
Hearing is a very delicate sense, the only more delicate sense is sight. The mechanisms of the ear and very very delicate, and easily damaged.

Pain is how your body tells you, "you have a problem". And you have a problem. The constant ringing and "underwater" sound are just more symptoms.

I have tinnitus, it comes and goes in intensity, but it is always there. Once it started it did not abate. I've been dealing with it for 15 odd years now. I would not expect your problems to "go away". Sorry. Personally, I suspect you'll have repercussions of that guy's little "joke" for the rest of your life. Again, sorry.

You need medical attention. You could start with a General Practitioner and I would expect him/her to refer you to a specialist. You need to go see a specialist.

Beyond that, "What would I do?". I'd go see a lawyer (and I know how they're revered around here). Frankly, the guy caused you damage. At a minimum you're going to have medical bills and have to deal with pain and discomfort. At a maximum, the bills and a lifetime of impaired hearing.

Get yourself medical attention.
 
What treatment (ballpark) do you think could or would help?

Pills, eardrum implant? Lasers?


I find it amazing what Lasic can do for eyesight. Now, I wonder would could be done to help/correct hearing.
 
Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
What treatment (ballpark) do you think could or would help?

Pills, eardrum implant? Lasers?


I find it amazing what Lasic can do for eyesight. Now, I wonder would could be done to help/correct hearing.

Could be anywhere between nothing (letting it heal on it's own) and surgery. No point in speculating. Need to find out what's wrong first.
 
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