doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Hearing protection

I have tinnitus from years of loud music and unprotected shooting. I deal with it but it can be annoying, debilitating in bad cases.

I always use protection when shooting. When bird hunting I try to keep at least one foam plug in my forward facing ear (RH shooter, left ear faces forward). I'm not a snap shooter on big game, I keep a plug handy (usually in my mouth) and have time to put it in before taking a shot.

My audiologist says my hearing has not gotten worse since I started this but the tinnitus varies.

I have severe hearing loss in left ear, especially higher frequencies, and extensive, similar loss in right ear. Some of this is likely inherited, some from lots of shooting for decades before hearing protection became common. High-frequency hearing loss is typical for heavy shooters and for solders that have been in battle.

When shooting outdoors I wear at least a set of thin, electronic muffs. These are generally rated at about 20dB and do not interfer with long guns, as do thicker ones rated for about 30dB. Often, I also use expansive foam ear plugs under the electronic muffs -- these ear plugs are rated at about 30dB. By turning amplification on electronic muffs to max, I can still converse with fellow shooters while wearing max hearing protection.

I no longer shoot at any range that has covered firing points, nor do I shoot indoors. I MIGHT be willing to shoot indoors with 30dB muffs AND expansive foam earplugs, but ONLY with 22 short ammo.

I have also quit shooting any especially loud guns, much prefering "whisper" loads for most practice and long-barreled rifles and shotguns (75-85 cm barrels) and low-pressure load at subsonic velocities. BP loads have been almost totally eliminated. SOP hearing protection for loud revolvers is 30dB muffs and expansive foam earplugs -- and they are only shot outdoors with no roof over me.

When hunting from blinds or other stationary locations, I always wear electronic muffs. Not only do they protect my hearing but, I can again hear what is going on around me. I also wear them when roaming hunting, so long as weather is not so hot as to make them unbearable -- again, they allow me to hear so much better what is going on around me. Because I hunt with long-barreled guns and generally sub-sonic ammo, the few shots I fire seem not to have any adverse consequences.

About a year ago I got a powerful hearing aid for left ear. Initially, it was only usefull in my music endeavors, thanks to a special "linear" channel -- however, it made understanding speech worse, no matter how much audiologist adjusted it. Recently, I can use this special music channel (in the hearing aid) to improve my understanding of conversation, over what I could understand without hearing aid.

There are "fixes" for lost hearing but, they are poor alternatives to preserving your hearing.

Niklas

I recommend regular checkups with an audiologist, especially as you get up in years. Here's one unexpected benefit:

I was having increasing difficulty hearing my wife, found myself saying "huh? what?" a lot. I accused her of mumbling. She said I was going deaf. So I went to an audiologist for a checkup. Test results: even after a lifetime of shooting, my hearing is quite good for a 70 year old! So now I can tell my wife to quit mumbling...

Hearing protection plus enhanced hearing afield.
http://www.pro-ears.com

The prospect of tinnitus really scares me, especially considering it is forever.

I am totally ignorant on special headphones. Would these work?
Audio-Technica

They can be had for about $130.-

BTW, I only hunt (and not big volumes like you can in Argentina).

JC

Electronic plugs are the way to go. I use Starkey Magnum Ears, and I won't shoot without them. For big handguns or bench shooting, I turn off the amps and put muffs over them.

Chuck H, don't be fooled by the perceived loudness of the .410 and the low pressure loads. The effects are cumulative and they will get ya'. Even .22's require use of hearing protection.