Hearing aids and shooting?

[P5Ret]

I'm about to enter the hearing aid wearer world most likely due to some poor decisions in my youth regarding my hearing. Anyone already there have any advise they'd like to pass on? Specifically what kind of hearing protection are you using with them or do you take them out at the range? My though is the less I have to mess with them the less chances of losing one. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, by someone who was a bit too slow to learn that hearing would be so important later in life, and these damn things are expensive.

[GreaterFool]

Howard Leight Impact Sport. $47 on Amazon. You won't regret it

[ElDub1950]

Tagged for responses. I'm about due for hearing aids too.

[bountyhunter]

I would leave them off unless some critical reason you have to hear.

[sonofeugene]

Just wear some quality muffs and for great convenience, make them electronic.

[k1dude]

If they are in-ear, just wear electronic muffs over them. The electronics of one don't interfere with the electronics of the other. At least in my experience that's true. And I need both to hear commands clearly.

[JDay]

I believe that there are in-car hearing aids on the market that double as noise canceling ear plugs.

[ken5714]

I would leave them off unless some critical reason you have to hear.

I have the ProTac Gold electronic ear muffs (expensive, but worth it). I leave my hearing aids out because the muffs can be adjusted to amplify the ambient sound, range commands, normal conversation, etc., while shutting down gunshot noise to a safe level. Just buy good hearing protection that you can adjust, you will be good to go. Hope that helps...

[MarkInFolsom]

I have the ProTac Gold electronic ear muffs (expensive, but worth it). I leave my hearing aids out because the muffs can be adjusted to amplify the ambient sound, range commands, normal conversation, etc., while shutting down gunshot noise to a safe level. Just buy good hearing protection that you can adjust, you will be good to go. Hope that helps...

Same here, only I use MSA Sordins. I tried leaving my hearing aids in one time and it made it too loud and "squealy".

[toby]

Deaf person here, remove your hearing aids every time you shoot. If you try to wear muffs over them you will find it very uncomfortable and your ears will sweat like crazy and that's not good for the aids. I once tested shooting Doves while wearing my aids and no muffs and really regretted it later. yes they help you hear so that BANG! gets driven deep and my ears rang for hours and the next morning I was ready to head home.

[9mmepiphany]

Unless your vanity overrides your need for discreet sound transmission you'll be better with the behind the ear aids as opposed to the in ear ones. You likely don't need the blue tooth compatible ones, but the model just under them offer the most adjustment ranges to address your hearing loss.

Take them off when shooting. They'll interfere with cup fit around your ear and may cause feedback under electronic muffs.

Unless you posses that perfect "average" head shape. Your best choice in electronic muffs will include Gel Cups. They will be more comfortable and seal better...seal around the ear is actually more important than NR rating.

The hearing aid market is very competitive. A top of the line provider can be very comparable in the price of a Big Box marketer...and they wouldn't be a generation behind in technology

[Ghostrider19]

I wear Starkey Halo behind the ear (BTE) devices and like them a lot. For shooting I invested in SoundGear Platinum BTE devices made by the same company. They are pricey but extremely comfortable and convenient, especially when shooting long guns.

[bountyhunter]

I have the ProTac Gold electronic ear muffs (expensive, but worth it). I leave my hearing aids out because the muffs can be adjusted to amplify the ambient sound, range commands, normal conversation, etc., while shutting down gunshot noise to a safe level. Just buy good hearing protection that you can adjust, you will be good to go. Hope that helps...

OK, but be WARNED:

Most electronic muffs have a relatively poor NRR rating, like 22 - 25 dBA. Best conventional muffs are 30 - 33 dBA and the extra 8 dB makes a big difference. Add good internal plugs and you'll pick up another 10 - 15 dB of reduction along with the muffs rating.

If you already need a hearing aid, you have no hearing left to "spend".... and believe me, I know exactly what I am talking about on that. I use internal plugs with muffs over them to save what's left of my hearing.

[bsg]

tagged

[P5Ret]

Thanks all for the answer's suggestions.