[NY65912]

At 59 yrs my hearing is slowly but surely failing. I have tinnitus and hearing loss. I have never listened to loud music but have worked using power tools, compressors, jackhammers and the usual electric tools since I was a kid and I am not surprised with my condition.

The loudest noise that I have been exposed to happened many years ago. We had a job at JFK airport working on the Int'l Arrivals Building back in the late '80's early '90's. I would make deliveries for the shop to the jobsite and had to enter the tarmac under escort from the PA police. They would escort us on service roads through the airport and had to cross runways to get to the terminal.

One day I arrived at the airport about 1:00pm. The Concorde was fully operating back then and had a scheduled departure time of 1 pm. We got to a runway crossing and there it was awaiting to take off....the loudest thing I have ever heard in my life, the SST.

Oh my GOD!!!! Upon take off the sound was beyond deafening, every molecule in my body was vibrating that I thought I would explode. It literally made me sick it was so loud. The PA cop had on a headset and all I could do was cover my ears with my hands. It was truly deafening, so much so I lost temporarily lost some hearing and it felt like I was getting brain zaps. Horrible experience.

How about you?