Tell us some more details. What is your age and what is your history of gun use? What kind of "gun" are we talking about. In the Navy guns are huge and carried by ships. In the Army guns are more commonly 155 mm and 105 mm artillery pieces. In the civilian world a gun is more commonly something in the 6 to 8 mm range and fired from the shoulder. Ported guns are much more damaging than unporterd barrels. Was this damage from a one-time event or use over a period of years? and was it with or without hearing protection? Family history has a lot to do with it too.

Gun noise is just that - noise. But it is more complicated than that. The noise is from two sources. First it is from the burning gasses leaving the barrel behind the bullet and the other "noise" is the sonic "crack" of the bullet breaking the sound barrier. Not all guns are supersonic. Some pistols and revolvers are really bad too. Hearing loss from small arms fire tends to be cumulative but permanent damage can result from a single occasion.

Stick with your hearing professionals. Seek second opinions when needed. Learn how to live with hearing loss while you are giving your steroid treatment time to work. And stay connected here.

Jim