A Nail Gun Woke Me Up in the Middle of the Day — Right Ear Irritated

[john558]

I was taking a nap while wearing 33 dB NRR earplugs, when all of a sudden what sounded like hammer sounds coming from the outside of the wall of my room wake me up for a few seconds, then It keeps happening for 30 more seconds, then I went out side, and my landlord was literally outside of the house, operating a nail gun, and I tell him to stop. I slept for 10 hours woke up and my right ear kind of hurts, would the nail gun do permanent damage to my ears?

 

[MRItechssuck]

So you had earplugs in, and the nail gun was being operated outside, possibly shooting into your wall... or some other part of the home, not sure what you were saying.

The noise of the nail gun is mostly outside the home, the cartridge shell is in the gun itself. Even the noise of the nail into the exterior wall makes noise... you are talking about some .22 caliber gunshots outside, and you had earplugs on... inside... for 30 seconds.

I can't see how that would have any effect on your hearing.

 

[valeri]

I doubt it, considering you were inside and wearing plugs.
Let us know in a few days.

 

[Michael B]

I would guess not, particularity since it was outside the room and you were wearing earplugs. For what it's worth, earplugs make my ears hurt if I wear them too long.

 

[RichardGuy]

I was taking a nap while wearing 33db nrr earplugs, when all of a sudden what sounded like hammer sounds coming from the outside of the wall of my room wake me up for a few seconds, then It keeps happening for 30 more seconds, then I went out side, and my landlord was literally outside of the house, operating a nail gun, and I tell him to stop. I slept for 10 hours woke up and my right ear kind of hurts, would the nail gun do permanent damage to my ears?

It is extremely unlikely that you incurred damage from a nail gun while wearing ear plugs and inside a dwelling. Much more likely the wearing of ear plugs over night irritated your ears.

 

[Digital Doc]

I have figured out that my ears are more sensitive to noise when asleep. I doubt any long term damage was done if the earplugs were properly inserted. However, it sounds like the noise was loud enough to wake you up, so you could certainly spike from this experience.

 

[PeteJ]

If you are not wearing plugs and pass a loud noise, would that damage hearing?

I just don't think I can wear plugs all the time. They don't fit well in my ear and I had pain from wearing them months ago.

I might wear them in certain situations though. I have had two incidents when I was in stores. The latest one today was from someone pulling out a shopping cart. Would that be dangerous?

 

[Digital Doc]

If you are not wearing plugs and pass a loud noise, would that damage hearing?

I just don't think I can wear plugs all the time. They don't fit well in my ear and I had pain from wearing them months ago.

I might wear them in certain situations though. I have had two incidents when I was in stores. The latest one today was from someone pulling out a shopping cart. Would that be dangerous?

Depends on how loud, and for how long, but it can damage hearing.

Pulling out a shopping cart is not likely to be all that loud, although it can be bothersome if you also have hyperacusis.

 

[john558]

Update: Pain is gone, I think it came most likely from wearing ear plugs while sleeping. I'm guessing I should get some exercise to help blood flow in my ears if that seems to help, I heard being anxious and startled kind of messes with hearing for a bit.

 

[MRItechssuck]

Lol I just f#&ked up putting headphones on full blast for a second before I got them off my head... I have more probability of having done damage than you outside nail gun.

Oh well... stuff happens.

 

[Digital Doc]

Glad it improved, and went away. For future hearing protection, try earmuffs, or for ear plugs there are low pressure ones that are more comfortable as they exert less pressure. There are also slim ones for narrow ear canals, mostly marketed for woman, but some men can benefit from them as well.