Are there many piano techs who are veterans?

[Jim Johnson]

I was in the Army back in the 60's.  I was going through Basic Training 
during the Cuban Missle Crisis-a scary time to be in the service.  I then 
served as a Fire Direction Control operator for a self-propelled 8" howitzer 
battery.  Back in those days they never considered ear protection on the 
rifle ranges or when firing the "big" guns.  When the 8" guns fired, often 
all six at once, you could feel the pressure wave hit your body.  Ever since 
that time, I have had a very measurable mid-range hearing loss (called a 
mid-range notch).  Since the hearing loss occured before I learned to tune, 
and since I am an aural tuner, it obviously didn't effect my ability to hear 
the pitches that are needed for tuning.  It does effect my ability to hear 
the typical female voice which falls within my weak area, leading my wife 
and daughters to wonder if I was deaf.  Some of that deafness was selective, 
I'm sure, but it did tend to cause some communication problems.  I still 
have trouble hearing women compared to men.  I have the normal loss of 
hearing and difficulty working in noisy invironments which are typical for a 
person my age (63).
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane Hofstetter" <dianepianotuner at msn.com>
To: <pianotech at ptg.org>; <caut at ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, May 13, 2007 12:51 AM
Subject: Are there many piano techs who are veterans?


> Are any of you veterans?  Do any of you have tinnitus?
>
> Thursday evening I will be attending a talk; "Treatment for Hearing Loss 
> and Tinnitus: State of the Art" by Dr. David Lilly, at one of the largest, 
> most up-to-date hearing research centers in the counry, the new National 
> Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research.
>
> I was fortunate to meet Dr. Lilly at a recent hearing convention and am 
> looking forward hearing him speak again and to finally seeing the research 
> center.
>
> Since this facility is part of the  Veteran's Administration, their focus 
> is on helping veterans with their hearing problems and I am wondering how 
> many piano technicians are veterans.  It would be a good talking point if 
> I ask them for help with research for piano tech's hearing problems.
>
> Thanks!
> Diane
>
> Diane Hofstetter
>
>
>
>