Hearing Conservation & Loss
As a person who suffers from a bilateral hearing loss, I can appreciate the need for early protection from all loud noises that induce hearing loss. I started shooting in the days before the introduction of efficient hearing protection. Back then, It was common to use spent casings or cotton in an attempt to reduce the painful shock of a loud rifle or pistol report.
The dilemma for some, such as the military and police, is the need to maintain full situational awareness while protecting hearing at the same time. Technology is providing an answer to that dilemma.
In March 2017, Doctors for Responsible Gun Ownership (DRGO) released a Position Paper in Favor of Firearm Suppressors to Prevent Hearing Loss. The DRGO paper noted: "All suppressors offered significantly greater noise reduction than ear-level protection, usually greater than 50% better. Noise reduction of all ear-level protectors is unable to reduce the impulse pressure below 140 dB for certain common firearms, an international standard for prevention of sensorineural hearing loss… Modern muzzle-level suppression is vastly superior to ear-level protection and the only available form of suppression capable of making certain sporting arms safe for hearing."
It is never too early to start protecting your hearing. When you are young, you may think that your hearing loss is only temporary following exposure to loud noise, but the damage has been done, and it will last a lifetime. To get an idea of how frustrating hearing loss can be, I have included a brief paper by Brad Witt titled What Does Noise-Induced Hearing Loss Sound Like? This paper will give you an idea of what you are avoiding by using efficient hearing protection; hopefully it will serve as an incentive.
The two types of devices below will protect people who have normal hearing, but they are also useful for people who are already suffering from a partial hearing loss. They allow a person to hear routine harmless noises, such as speech, while lowering or blocking louder harmful noise.
Unlike traditional hearing protection that decreases high frequencies much more than low frequencies (like a graphic equalizer filtering out high frequencies), uniform attenuation hearing protectors are more like a volume control, turning down all frequencies about equally. Uniform attenuation hearing protectors usually provide less overall attenuation but that is what is needed for the hearing-impaired.
2. Sound Restoration Hearing Protectors (Electronic Ear Muffs)
Electronic circuitry amplifies quiet ambient sounds, such as speech, but when noise approaches or exceeds a hazardous level (about 80-83 dB), they provide traditional noise-blocking attenuation. Depending on the model, these electronic muffs can provide one-way or two-way communication. When used in combination with a set of in-the-canal earplugs, the electronic amplifier in these ear muffs can be adjusted to allow normal conversation while, at the same time, providing excellent protection from the loudest small-arms fire.
Start now! Whether it be a suppressor, ear-level protection, or a combination of both; protect your hearing!