Is it common for Trucking to cause tinnitus?

We have about 30 drivers. The youngest is in his early 40s. I'd say 90% have a problem with tinnitus. Most of them have been driving trucks and operating heavy machinery all their lives. I'm not reaching for those numbers. They're from the audiologist's file when she was here with her company's portable office and exam center.
About 90% of the drivers have a measurable hearing loss. About 70% wear some kind of hearing aid.

 

I've never worn ear plugs or any other kind of hearing protection when driving a truck because I never thought when you are in a cab that enough noise was coming inside to cause any harm, think the noise has to be at least above 80 decibels before it can cause permanent harm to your hearing. I know what its like to have tinnitus as I have suffered from it for years with constant ringing in my ears but this was caused from when I was much younger working on the Sugar Cane farm operating tractors without adequate hearing protection.

 

Our world is much louder than our ancestors' was. Our eardrums are assaulted just about 24 hours a day. When you go down to do your DOT physical, part of the process is a simple whisper hearing test. I wear earplugs as close to 24 hours a day leading up to the physical to give my eardrums a rest from the world and to make my hearing as acute as possible that day. Over the years, my earsdrums have developed tinnitus, mostly from exposure to high decibel jobs (piledriving,19 years USMC 4 years) and just the action of getting older.

My dad and his buddies, as they all got older, one by one they each had to get hearing aids. I've done my best to wear earplugs as much as possible over the years; It may not be legal, and very hard to prove I do it, but i wear at least one earplug when i drive. What you have to do is be on extra full alert, much like the aging boxer who is told if he gets hit one more time on his left eye, he will go blind but he takes the fight anyway because it pays $10million, he is going to be on extra alert not to get hit. Protect your hearing now or buy a hearing aid later.

 

What?

 

I have a constant noise. It sounds like radio static between stations.

I don't notice it during normal activities.
I can hear it, if I concentrate.
During periods of lower external noise, it is noticable.

 

Any job that has a low humming noise. Trucks, factories, etc. causes hearing problems. I’ve had temporary tinnitus. Thankfully it goes away. They claim it’s maddening when permanent. My problem is more common. Hearing loss. My wife’s been running with me for over 5 yrs. Her hearing has really gotten bad, worse than mine lately. I’m worried about her. No doubt caused or at least made much worse from being in the Truck.

 

Hearing loss is hereditary in my family. My dad and his dad were very hearing impaired. I will most likely end up with hearing aids.

I have had tinnitus for years. It’s really bad now. I had my DOT physical 4 hours ago. Told the doc during hearing test I can hear but the tinnitus makes it very difficult.

 

This is a little off topic here but after stumbling across this thread it seems like a good place to ask.
I wore foam earplugs when I rode motorcycles years ago as they helped me ride longer before getting tired as well as helping to preserve my hearing. I started wearing them again while driving a 2019 Cascadia daycab for the same reason after noticing the background noise in the truck was similar to that on the bike. I also started having a big problem staying awake after I started wearing ear plugs. I checked for Carbon Monoxide, asked the shop to check for an exhaust leak and none was found. Nothing else changed in the couple of weeks I wore earplugs and struggled to stay awake with the exception of my drinking more coffee ( and stopping to pee more). 2 days ago I noticed the problem staying awake and my wearing earplugs started at about the same time and I stopped wearing earplugs. And was much more alert. I can't think of a reason why wearing earplugs would make me tired now unless it's a placebo effect but I'm glad to be more alert while driving.

I wore a couple of different types of foam earplugs too, and tried wearing one kind while sleeping to see if I'd sleep better and that didn't change anything. It'd be nice if they made it easier for me to sleep at home instead of making it harder to stay awake while driving but...

Has anyone else noticed anything similar?

 

Yes, I know from personal experience that it causes tinnitus. The cab noise while driving is between 70 and 80 decibels. If you listen to that all day without protection, you will lose your hearing. I personally use Moldex rocket pak ear plugs. Not sponsored by them. They're the only plugs I can wear all day without irritation. And for temporary relief from tinnitus, look up Dalesnale's videos on YouTube. Again, not sponsored. Protect your hearing people!

 

No doubt its possible but trucks been pretty quiet the past 30 years,,,Some I drove way back you would loath cold weather as you could hear every stroke of the engine like hammers pounding steel rail