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Contents<\/p>
- 1<\/span> A Clear Link Between Shooting and Hearing Loss<\/a><\/li>
- 2<\/span> What If I Don’t Use Ear Protection When Shooting?<\/a><\/li>
- 3<\/span> What Should I Look For in Shooting Hearing Protection?\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 4<\/span> Does The Type Of Shooting Change Anything?\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- 5<\/span> Recommended Hearing Protection<\/a><\/li>
- 6<\/span> Hearing Amplification and Shooting?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n
A Clear Link Between Shooting and Hearing Loss<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Sounds under 70 decibels (dB) are considered to be at a safe level for hearing. Anything over 85 dB is likely to cause some level of damage to the sensitive hair cells in your inner ear.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Concerningly, <\/span>firearm noise can range from 140 dB to 175 dB<\/span><\/a>. Of course, this will depend on the gun’s caliber and the shooting environment, but one thing\u2019s for sure \u2014 without protection, this level of noise is going to take a serious toll on your ears. <\/span>The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) even points out that exposure to one event at <\/span>140 dB SPL would constitute 100 percent <\/span><\/a>of a person’s daily allowable noise exposure.<\/span><\/p>\n
A 2000 study involving 1,500 Wisconsin men revealed that 95 percent of those who hunted and 38 percent of those who participated in target shooting <\/span>had never worn ear protection<\/span><\/a> during the year preceding the study. The study also demonstrated a link between shooting and <\/span>high-frequency hearing loss<\/span><\/a> (a reduction in your ability to hear high-frequency sounds).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Despite this, it\u2019s clear that many people still aren\u2019t using ear protection when shooting or standing nearby. Some have grown up shooting without ear protection, and when others around you aren\u2019t using it either, it\u2019s hard to make earplugs a habit.<\/span><\/p>\n
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What If I Don’t Use Ear Protection When Shooting?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Exposure to firearms will very likely lead to noise-induced hearing loss<\/a>. Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the biggest causes of hearing loss, affecting millions of Americans today.\u00a0<\/span>Unfortunately, the hearing loss caused by noise damage to the inner ear can\u2019t be restored, as once hair cells are damaged they don\u2019t repair, but die. This also means that noise damage is cumulative, and every little bit of harm that\u2019s happening to your hearing is contributing to your overall level and rate of hearing loss.<\/span><\/p>\n
But it\u2019s not just repeated exposure to loud noise for long periods of time that causes damage. Very loud but short bursts of noise (just like gunshots) can cause irreversible hearing loss or tinnitus in just one blow.<\/span><\/p>\n
Using shooting ear plugs isn\u2019t just important for those shooting, hearing protection is crucial for bystanders too. Even if you\u2019re not the one shooting the gun, this doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019re a safe enough distance away to not need earplugs. There\u2019s a big difference between 70 dB (marking the threshold for safe hearing levels) and 140 dB, the lowest noise level the shot of a firearm is likely to create.<\/span><\/p>\n
Luckily, choosing suitable ear protection can be easy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Earmuffs](\"https:\/\/www.oliveunion.com\/ustest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/earplugs-4561728_1920-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhat Should I Look For in Shooting Hearing Protection?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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All hearing protection should come with a noise reduction rating (NRR) \u2014 a measurement indicating how effective the protection is. The NRR is also used to calculate the dB rating of sound as it passes through your ear protection (ie 5 NRR means 5 decibels of hearing protection). <\/span>The higher your ear protection\u2019s NRR, the safer your hearing will be. For reference, the highest NRR you can get is 33 which can considerably reduce the level of loud noise reaching your ears from the gunfire you\u2019ll find on the shooting range.<\/span><\/p>\n
When it comes to the type of hearing protection you want to wear, you have choices as well. Larger over-the-head earmuffs or smaller earplugs are both viable options which in the end will come down to personal preference.<\/p>\n
In particular, when it comes to earplugs some people opt for custom-molded hearing protection. <\/span>Their custom mold means they\u2019ll fit snug into your ear canal without moving or becoming loose. As the damage caused by shooting comes in the form of short but extremely loud bursts of sound, by the time you notice your earplugs have moved the noise and damage to your sensitive ear structures will have already occurred. Therefore not only does a custom mold provide a more comfortable fit, but also a tighter seal and safer experience.<\/span><\/p>\n
Or, as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends, both together<\/a>! Wearing earplugs underneath earmuffs is an incredibly effective way to protect your ears against the incredibly loud sound created by gunfire.<\/p>\n
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Does The Type Of Shooting Change Anything?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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You could be using a handgun, rifle, or shotgun for bullseye shooting, field shooting, or clay target shooting \u2014 it doesn\u2019t matter. Whenever you\u2019re around a gun, you need to use ear protection.<\/span><\/p>\n
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Recommended Hearing Protection<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019re shopping around for affordable custom-molded hearing aids, check out the brand <\/span>Decibullz<\/span><\/a>. They offer fitted earplugs with a short and simple set-up process that you can do yourself. You can simply boil some water and immerse the earpieces until they become pliable. After they’ve cooled for a bit, you can mold them to the shape of your ears for a great custom fit. They\u2019re also re-moldable, which is handy if you make a mistake on your first try!<\/span><\/p>\n
The EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus<\/a><\/span>\u00a0are made from soft, medical-grade polymer has also received great reviews for low decibel sounds (they have a lower NRR) and lower caliber firearms. These earplugs also have a retention ring to prevent slipping. However, they won\u2019t provide the best protection when used with louder guns.<\/span><\/p>\n
Mack\u2019s Shooters Ear Seals Ear Plugs<\/span><\/a> are also a simple, effective option for protection against high-caliber firearms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
The most popular earmuffs on Amazon, Walker’s Game Ear Razor Slim Electronic Muff<\/a> offer a 23dB NRR and sit at an an impressive 4.8 star rating out of almost 8,500 reviews.<\/p>\n
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Hearing Amplification and Shooting?<\/span><\/h2>\n
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While it is important to protect your ears when around gunfire, sometimes the opposite case exists as well. For those who need additional help hearing, the usage of ear protection might end up hindering their performance or enjoyment.<\/p>\n
When hunting specifically, it\u2019s worth keeping in mind how important your hearing is when you’re hunting. Any hunter will admit that you rely on this crucial sense just as much as you do on sight.<\/p>\n
For hunters or shooters who need to both protect their hearing and give it a boost at the same time, take a look at our hearing aids for hunting article<\/a>.<\/p>\n
For more information on hearing loss, hearing devices, and all manner of hearing health and sound topics, see <\/span>our other blog articles<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n
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The information in this guide has been written using the following reliable sources:<\/b><\/p>\n
https:\/\/www.decibullz.com\/the-importance-of-hearing-protection-for-shooting\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n
- 2<\/span> What If I Don’t Use Ear Protection When Shooting?<\/a><\/li>