STILL RINGING IN MY EARS

“In 1977, as a middle-aged hippie learning how to be a contractor, I had recycled some hard maple flooring from a fire-damaged gymnasium to floor my own house. It worked well, so I figured that what’s good for the floor should be good for the kitchen counter. I decided to use my beautiful new Makita electric hand planer to plane the boards prior to installation.

“Working away at removing the varnish and getting a nice new finish, I noticed that the planer seemed to be making more noise, and my ears were beginning to hurt. I’m almost done, I thought; a few more minutes won’t matter. I didn’t go get my ear protectors (that might have taken 5 minutes), or replace the dull blades (not more than 10 minutes), or sharpen the blades (maybe 15 or 20 minutes). I just kept working until I finished.

“The next morning, I noticed a ringing in my ears. I figured it would go away soon. Well, 30 years later the ringing still hasn’t gone away. I can’t hear the sweet nothings my wife occasionally whispers; I can’t follow the talk at parties; I can’t distinguish the birds singing from the noise in my head. I find myself ‘tuned out’ in many situations. I hear the sounds, but I can’t understand the words because I’ve lost the high frequencies.

“I have spent more than $10,000 on hearing aids, most of it out-of-pocket. My current set is certainly a help, but it’s no substitute for undamaged hearing. I can’t begin to count the number of hours I have spent with audiologists, ear/nose/throat doctors, and so on. Worst, however, is the sense of isolation that not hearing well imposes.

“Here’s what I tell my staff: If sound causes pain, it is causing damage. That kind of damage does not heal; in fact, it gets worse each time you do it. Protect your ears with plugs and headphones, which I supply on every jobsite. And keep your cutting tools sharp. Not only can they harm your ears if they’re dull, but they’re much more likely to cause accidents.

“The countertop I installed 30 years ago? It’s still in service, after just one refinishing. Wish I could say the same for the ears.”

By age 25, the average carpenter’s hearing is comparable to that of a 50-year-old who has worked in a quiet job. Construction tools with the highest sound levels include belt and orbital sanders; circular, jig, miter, and reciprocating saws; grinders; and drills (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).