Shooting with Hearing Aids

[Shooter13]

I have Orticon hearing aids but just turn them off when going to the range, I use Otto Engineering and they are great, I could actually not wear muffs when there are just a few shooters but at the Nationals this past weekend and 20 guns on the line it was more comfortable with the Walkers on With the Otto!

 

[Pietro panama]

Seldom post. Have artillery ears, aids, take out and put on muffs. Friend uses plugs plus muffs… not sure necessary. FYI, have not used VA, but have had Costco last few years. Excellent technicians, walk-in service anytime, $1500/pair.

 

[bluealtered]

I was very hard to fit and it had to be done three times. They were not quite $7,000 when done and they work well. However, I live in an area where the wind always blows and the whistling noise from even a little wind bothers me no end so they spend more time on the charger than on me.
My problem is high to very high pitch sounds so I get along pretty well without them most of the time.

 

[Old Navy]

I have Orticon hearing aids but just turn them off when going to the range, I use Otto Engineering and they are great, I could actually not wear muffs when there are just a few shooters but at the Nationals this past weekend and 20 guns on the line it was more comfortable with the Walkers on With the Otto!

Turning mine off is not near as good as plugs of muffs. I thought for years that if my ears didn't hurt there was no damage. Wrong!

 

[Shooter13]

Turning mine off is not near as good as plugs of muffs. I thought for years that if my ears didn't hurt there was no damage. Wrong!

I'm sorry "turning them off" I meant taking them out of my ears and turning them off so they don't squeal, I don't leave them in, I use the Ottos and sometimes the muffs, hearing aids are not in my ear.

 

[rardoin]

PUT YPUR HEARINGS AIDS AWAY WHEN SHOOTING AND USE YOUR PLUGS AND MUFFS

^^^^ THIS ^^^^ Don't risk your remaining hearing capacity. My aids go into a box in my range bag and I use deeply inserted foamies and an amplified ANR headset on top. With the amplification/ANR turned off I cannot even hear range commands. I rely on the electronics so I can hear commands/converse and have the gate shut when rounds go off. NO WAY would I rely upon a muff over my aids to protect the precious little hearing I have remaining. Not that I hold a strong opinion on such matters...LOL.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Apparently, whether it's a good idea to leave one's aids in with a muff depends on the particular aid design AND what kind of dome one is using inside the ear canal???

I keep my aids on under a good electronic muff. My particular brand of aid has the receiver in the ear canal and I use a "medium" solid dome that easily shuts out sound really well when I mute my aids. When muted, very little outside sounds gets in. Though of course, a muzzle blast can still be heard somewhat more than faintly and I can't hear any talking or range management over the comm. Because I can't hear much with my aids are muted, I leave them unmuted with the muff covering them, mostly to protect the aid's microphones and so I can hear the range comm.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

I was told to take them out 10 years ago that gun fire could damage them. I have newer aides now but I still don’t wear them shooting

 

[M-61]

I was very hard to fit and it had to be done three times. They were not quite $7,000 when done and they work well. However, I live in an area where the wind always blows and the whistling noise from even a little wind bothers me no end so they spend more time on the charger than on me.
My problem is high to very high pitch sounds so I get along pretty well without them most of the time.

That can be adjusted

 

[M-61]

It’s hard for me to believe anyone would wear hearing aids when shooting. The name alone is Hearing AID. That should be a tip off. They are not ear plugs.
Then again do what ever makes you happy.

 

[rardoin]

Apparently, whether it's a good idea to leave one's aids in with a muff depends on the particular aid design AND what kind of dome one is using inside the ear canal???

Negative.... No hearing aid will provide adequate sound dampening to prevent hearing loss even under the best muffs. Damage is caused to the hair cells by intensity of the sound in addition to repetition/duration of exposure. A single 140dB hit can cause damage, but, repetitive 90dB hits can also do the same. Most muffs give about 12-16 dB attenuation under ideal fit and, IME, this is inadequate. An in-canal aid provides very little additional attenuation. I have had this conversation with many ENT colleagues (who are hunters) and my audiologists; all agree that just my aids under the muffs are asking for further sensory-neural loss.

 

[gero]

I have an appointment with the VA for a hearing test. Have not been tested is several years and don't know just what is available. Presently use plugs and muffs when shooting and just plugs when running equipment. I have plugs in 2-3 times a day. I understand the VA is the biggest buyer of hearing aids, so would think I'll have many options.

Do any good hearing aids have a " noise cancelling" feature? And does it work for shooting?
I don't want to fool with batteries, are all good hearing aides available as rechargeable?

My dad got a pair and after awhile with my mom gave them back and got a refund, I was thinking he didn't want to hear her THAT good. He told her he just couldn't get (get this!) USED TO THE SOUND !

 

[Chaotik]

I have Starky hearing aids from the VA. I would never consider using them when shooting.

 

[Straightshooter1]

Negative.... No hearing aid will provide adequate sound dampening to prevent hearing loss even under the best muffs. Damage is caused to the hair cells by intensity of the sound in addition to repetition/duration of exposure. A single 140dB hit can cause damage, but, repetitive 90dB hits can also do the same. Most muffs give about 12-16 dB attenuation under ideal fit and, IME, this is inadequate. An in-canal aid provides very little additional attenuation. I have had this conversation with many ENT colleagues (who are hunters) and my audiologists; all agree that just my aids under the muffs are asking for further sensory-neural loss.

In terms of In-Canal Aids, I agree that they are not adequate for reducing loud sounds like you describe. At least, I don't know of any that would.

Just to be clear, I do not have In-Canal aids. I have behind the hear aids that use a wire from that part of the unit behind the ear going to a receiver with a removable silicon dome attached. The receiver with the dome attached goes in and fills the ear canal in the same manner that ear plugs do; only a little deeper. And as I said, when I mute the aids, very little sound makes it way through or past that dome. That makes for some convenience whenever I want to tune out the world.

I've been wearing aids for the last 9 year and shooting with them under quality muffs. During that time I've had many follow up testing and according to my audiologist, there's been no further hear degradation. Interestingly to me, my last test suggested a slight improvement, though I think that's just due to falling within a margin of error inherent in these tests.