Hearing loss and shooting.

[PinnedAndRecessed]

We're all interested in the shooting sports and how it impacts our hearing. Noise hurts us and is measured in decibel levels.

Here are some examples. Video arcades - (110 dB), firecrackers - (125-155 dB at a distance of 10 feet), live music concerts - (120 dB and above) , gunshots - (150-167 dB), movie theatres - (118 dB), health clubs and aerobic studios (120 dB), sporting events (127 dB), motorboats - (85-115 dB), motorcycles - (95-120 dB), snowmobiles - (99 dB) , "boom cars" - (140 dB and above).

Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.

Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.

Note that some earplugs only reduce the noise 15 dB. If you’re shooting a gun at 167dB, the noise level is still 152dB.

Simultaneous use of earplugs and muffs usually adds 10 to 15dB more protection than either used alone. I use cheap muffs and cheap plugs. If they’re only providing the minimum protection level, then I’m still suffering hearing loss while shooting. Plus, muffs won’t seal around glasses. (I wear glasses.)

I’m making an appointment with an audiologist this week to figure it out.

[LongBch_SigP226]

Thanks for the informative post.

[rkt88edmo]

Originally posted by PinnedAndRecessed:
I use cheap muffs and cheap plugs. If they’re only providing the minimum protection level, then I’m still suffering hearing loss while shooting. Plus, muffs won’t seal around glasses. (I wear glasses.)

I almost always double plug as well. I wonder if you used soft ear plugs and cut out sleeves for the arms on you glasses if you would be able to develop a better seal.

[PinnedAndRecessed]

cut out sleeves for the arms on you glasses

Huh?

[rkt88edmo]

Spear an earplug onto the arm of your glasses. Position it where the glasses pass under the gasket on you muffs in order to seal the hole. shape to fit.

[ivanimal]

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

[Kestryll]

This is an important issue for shooters, hearing NEVER comes back.

Due to some unprotected outdoor shooting, industrial noises from various shops I visited as part of my job back when, indoor raquetball and having the occasion to discharge a .357 in my livingroom I have had low level ringing for several years now.
I recently went shooting with a friend outdoors with cheap pharmacy-style earplugs and got more battered. After a few days of "Huh?" my Wife insisted that I go to an audiologist.
The results are "substantial and signifigant hearing loss in the left ear and signifigant loss in the right." and a recommendation to get a hearing aid for the left. It won't fix the hearing, nothing can, but it may help with clarity. I missed a good portion of the 'spoken word' test. I heard the noise but misinterpreted the words leading to answering questions on an entirely different subject!

The end result of all of this is that at age 38 I have lost the upper register on the right side, most of the upper register and ALL of the mid-range on the left and will be wearing a hearing aid to keep up with conversations.

Wear those plugs and muffs! Wear both!
And pay attention to the other loud noises in your life. I had no idea that indoor raquetball was the aucoustic equivilent of repeated gunshots!

Hearing damage is nerve damage and guess which part of the body cannot grow back...

[Turbinator]

I'll tell ya, even for odd jobs around the house, I slap my earplugs in -- vacuuming the car, hammering a nail, things like that. It may seem like overkill, but even today I can hear the garage door opening from all the way across the house - the NEIGHBOR'S garage door.

Turby

[Rascal]

Originally posted by Turbinator:
I'll tell ya, even for odd jobs around the house, I slap my earplugs in -- vacuuming the car, hammering a nail, things like that. It may seem like overkill, but even today I can hear the garage door opening from all the way across the house - the NEIGHBOR'S garage door.

Turby

No Sir! It is NOT overkill! I too suffer from hearing loss. I know it annoys the wife when I say Huh? but it really annoys me that I can't hear.

[Eljay]

I'd say overall that shooting has been good for my hearing... since I have plugs and so forth around I'm much more likely to wear them other times I should. I've even made big points at concerts to have my date say she wished she had plugs, and sure enough, there's always a couple of pairs in my jacket.

[Turbinator]

Originally posted by Rascal:
No Sir! It is NOT overkill! I too suffer from hearing loss. I know it annoys the wife when I say Huh? but it really annoys me that I can't hear.

Thanks for the validation, I'm glad to hear that someone out there doesn't think I'm crazy for slapping on the muffs for vacuuming the car or the floor.

I even put 'em on during reloading - you never know when a primer might go off..

Turby

[imported_booknut]

Turby,
I've been wearing ear muffs to vacuum with since the 80s

I kick myself when I go to a theater without plugs.
Last time we went to a movie, I forgot to bring the plugs and wound up with napkins in my ears.

I've had ringing in both ears for years, I'm 45 now.
I can't hear the coffee pot whistle when I'm anywhere in the house except the kitchen, unless my ear has a straight shot to the kitchen.

We have those cars with the loud stereos drive by fairly often.
The sound from them makes our front window panes rattle and we feel the bass.
I know those kids are going to have some hearing loss later.
I'll bet they could care less for now though.

One of the worst experiences I've had for noise was on a bear hunt in Alaska.
I went with two friends.
We all had Rem .338's, one of those had a KDF brake on it.
I was positioned between these guys and none of us had hearing protection.

I shot my grizzly and he spun around to run.
Before I could follow up, the other two guys let loose!
I KNOW I lost some hearing that day!
Come to think of it, the KDF was on my left and that's the ear that is the worst.

Up until then, I never thought about taking hearing protection on a hunt.

[imported_Matt-man]

I can't believe people don't wear some kind of hearing protection while hunting with centerfire rifles. A lot of people say, "oh, it's only one or two shots." That's true, but the way my ears are, one unmuffled shot from an '06 is enough to ruin my week. I'm getting to the point where I need to take precautions against friggin 22 rifles.

And yes, I wear my 30dB-rated Peltors if I'm going to vacuum the house, or grind on something with the Dremel.

[BigAL]

And here I was thinking I was the only person to wear hearing plugs while vacuuming.

[imported_edbon9]

Originally posted by BigAL:
And here I was thinking I was the only person to wear hearing plugs while vacuuming.

you guys vacuum??