Hearing Protection

[Stormin_67]

In my early days I didn't concern myself with much hearing protection, I have a job where hearing is important and am tested bi-annually. There is noted loss due to firing firearms w/o hearing protection. I have been trying my best in the last 10 years to protect my hearing wearing headphones regularly. I have been going to some long range competitions and even w/ both headphones and foam inserts, my ears will begin to faintly ring? Most of the time it's because of one if these new muzzle breaks, I shoot prone and the blast off a fellow bench shooter gets me. I am wondering if it's the sheer concussion from the blast pressure and not necessarily the noise?? Any if you had this experience and what did you do to fix it?? I shoot suppressed and absolutely love it!


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[Strykeback]

Once you get the ringing you best enjoy it. You can't grow the microscopic "celia" back in your ear drum. I have occasional ringing from my teen years in a band with my keyboards right next to a drummer and his cymbals. A silent room is deafening to me. And my side job is an audio engineer....

You are doubling up which is best you can do. Some like the electronic in ear guys. Passive plugs with electronic muffs are what I run. Its a loud sport. Just thing once your hearing goes you won't need to worry so much

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[Bete Noire]

Sound is also conducted through the bones of the skull, so yes in a way the concussion impulse is also harmful. You can get a hat with ear flaps to further buffer the sound impulse. Also bring a sheet of plywood to separate your bench from neighbors. Any physical barrier will help to some degree.


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[Fox Mulder]

WHAT???


Seriously though, I'm a gun nut, a bass player, and a railroad conductor. I do wear double hearing protection while shooting, and ear plugs at work. I don't wear plugs when I'm playing, but I probably should, being right next to the drum kit most times. I only notice the tinnitus when I think about it, or when it's really quiet. I have to sleep with a fan on.

[003]

As noted above, sound reaches the inner by both the ear canal and through the facial bones. Even with the very best double ear protection, loud sounds can still reach the inner ear with enough volume to do permanent damage.

[DNA]

Are you sure you're utilizing the plugs correctly in addition to the over the ear muffs?

You may want to try different styles of plugs as they all fit differently and you get the best use when they fit up in your ear canal instead of sticking half way out like I see most folks wearing them.

And try muffs that cover a greater area of your ears to help dampen the sound waves to your skull. Are the ear muffs getting lifted off your head due to the temples of your safety glasses? Have you tried other sets?

Dan

[ChuckDizzle]

You may find it more noticeable due to how quiet it is when you double up. I actually hear the ringing worst when it is quiet or with plugs in. Most of my damage came from military aircraft.

[NapalmCheese]

I am wondering if it's the sheer concussion from the blast pressure and not necessarily the noise??

Noise and concussion are the same thing. Noise is measured as a pressure wave. Quite literally a wave of high pressure s forcing your ear drum into your skull causing it to push against the little bones in your ear. Do that too hard or too quickly and eventually things don't work so well.

When you insert your foam plugs get them in DEEP. If they aren't in deep they aren't in correctly.

Watch a video on how to properly insert your foam plugs. With those and good muffs over the top muzzle brakes shouldn't cause ringing in your ears, unless you're shooting around artillery.

Basically the best you can hope for is an honest to goodness 30 - 35 db reduction in sound pressure by using foam plugs and muffs. Lots of foam plugs are rated to 33 NRR, that's a 33 db reduction in sound pressure if they are inserted correctly. Lots of muffs will achieve something similar if worn correctly. Together they don't double the sound protection, no where near it; you might get an extra db or two of NRR by doubling up. Not that it isn't important, on db is a huge difference. As such, if you can get 35 NRR, anything that's making a sound pressure wave greater than 175 db can still cause discomfort and hearing loss. At that point the only thing that's going to reduce the trauma is wearing a foam mask/helmet.

[hambam105]

wondering if it's the sheer concussion from the blast pressure

A wonderful deer on the couch? Say what? Ayyy...speak-up.

[Stormin_67]

Thanks for the input and the jokes, great forum!!! I use the 3M foam plugs and some cheap Peltor headphones. I guess I will do my homework on better foam plugs and headphones???? I purchased a pair of 50$ Impact Sport electronic headphones but liked the cheap Peltors better, they fit better.


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[Strykeback]

Better than specific muffs. (Yeah go ahead and get a joke in quick). Look more importantly at your shooting glasses and how they attach on your ear. I forget right now what set I have. But one of the pairs has a very thin low pro attachments that swoop back around your ears. Helping to not push the muffs up off your ears.

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[Jimi Jah]

Start early, ears don't grow back. I began using ear plugs touring with Stevie Wonder, it was very loud on stage. That was back when I was in my 20's. I'm 64 now and my hearing tests better than many 18 year olds.

It's a life long effort to keep your hearing, many places can damage them, even a movie theater. I always carry a pair of foamies in my pocket, no matter where I go, it's a noisy world.

[stevebla]

3m classic PLUS ear plugs are longer and help removal when you insert them into your ear canal. Roll them tight and get them deep. Plugs only for .22 plugs and muffs for centerfire.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-Uncorded-Earplugs-Conservation-310-1101/dp/B008MCTOPU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1488135431&sr=8-1&keywords=3m+plus+classic

[Lex Talionis]

Start early, ears don't grow back. I began using ear plugs touring with Stevie Wonder, it was very loud on stage. That was back when I was in my 20's. I'm 64 now and my hearing tests better than many 18 year olds.

It's a life long effort to keep your hearing, many places can damage them, even a movie theater. I always carry a pair of foamies in my pocket, no matter where I go, it's a noisy world.

I wish somebody would have told me this 40 years ago. Last month my ears started ringing and it's now non-stop. I haven't experienced this ringing sound since after a Deep Purple or Van Halen Concert... probably where some damage occurs, but those are just the obvious culprits. I think a lifetime of lawn mowers, table saws and other industrial noises are what damage most men's hearing.

The told us not to smoke and I never did. Preventing skin cancer and hearing loss was just not something talked about back then and now I have both.