Hearing Protection ?

[fx77]

Consider MSA Sordin

http://www.msa-sordin.com/guide/v3.2/index.html

 

[ChrisNZ]

For an overview of all the issues, you might want to check my (now old) article on Chuck Hawks site:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/hearing_protection_shooters.htm

Chris-NZ

 

[BoydAllen]

Back when amplified muffs first came out, I figured out that I didn't want to be distracted by other shooter's small talk 10 benches away. (I had a pair.) I use low profile (21 DB) muffs in conjunction with 33 DB plugs, and the combination works fine, but I do appreciate new information, in case, for one reason or another, I decide to change, or a friend is looking for recommendations. Thanks

 

[Canuck Archer]

You don't want to end up wearing hearing aids, they are a pain in the butt, and don't replace your natural hearing. So you are doing the right thing, investigating into the best ways to preserve your hearing. Noise is a complicated topic. But if you use foam insert plugs, AND the best darn muff with the highest noise reduction number, you will go a long ways to preserving your hearing. And it's not only gunfire that ruins your hearing. It's the lawnmower, loud music, etc. It's a noisy world. If you shoot and hear ringing, you've just ruined some hearing ability. Tinitus is ringing or noise that you hear in your ear, when there is no noise. That is a sign of hearing damage. Imagine trying to sleep at night and all you hear is ringing, buzzing noises in your ears. Not a pretty sight. And I have seen people lose their hearing with just one shot from a loud rifle. They never regained their hearing again. Just think about living your life not being able to hear. Do what you must to preserve it, and spend as much as you need to.

 

[spclark]

You don't want to end up wearing hearing aids, they are a pain in the butt, and don't replace your natural hearing. (snip) Just think about living your life not being able to hear. Do what you must to preserve it, and spend as much as you need to.

It's not so much not being able to hear, it's the constant buzz / ring / hiss when you ought to expect to hear silence. What becomes your 'silence' can be really loud - all the time - which you come to learn drowns out a lot of what people with good hearing don't understand you can't hear. You can't pick casual conversation out of what for you is the ever-present background noise in your ears, even if the person speaking to you is looking straight at you & you're in a fairly quite environment. Give it up if you're in a restaurant or in a crowd.

I'm sitting here typing this & the ringing in my right ear is louder than the fan on my computer.

Joni (she might not have written the lyrics but I remember her vocal version) had it right when she sang "You don't know what you got 'til it's gone" & hearing - normal hearing ability - is a lot more fragile than most folks understand.