Firing in defense...does it hurt???

Originally posted by pluspinc:
Hearing can be damaged from the harsh concussion of air but that is
rare as the mind shuts off the electronics that move information from the ear to the brain.
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I'm sorry, pluspinc, but that's nonsense. The damage that occurs has NOTHING to do
with "electronics" of the nervous system but with the purely mechanical damage to yourear drum.
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THAT is exactly what I said if you read the post. Didn't I say hearing CAN be damaged by the concussion of air (air pressure) but it is rare as the hearing is electronically shut off to the brain in most cases.


Thus, even if your sensory system blocks it off, and you don't actually hear
the shots, the damage to the ear drum is still there and is exactly the same as if you do hear the sound.
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NOT every shot causes ear damage. Some cause simple tinitus and most doesn't even do that. I hope you won't claim 100% of ears are damaged by indoor firing of all weapons.

BTW, I'm a physiologist by profession, so I know what I'm talking about.
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So is Dr. Laura. I'm not but I do play one on TV at times.
 
From someone who flew aircraft, both jet and trurboprop aircraft and as a consequence has lost a range of hearing in both ears, I can tell you that not all hearing is lost. You may lose a certain range of hearing depending the level and intenstity of the decibel level. You may only be able to hear a certain frequency at extremely high levels or you may lose it all together. A good stereo is a waste of money for me. High frequency loss is a fact of life in the aviation industry. My doctor said my eardrums look like tanned leather. Now the way he explained it to me, it is damage to the nerves that pickup the sound and transmit it to the brain. These specialized nerve endings operate in different frequency ranges and that over time with constant exposure become less efficent in transmitting the sound. These nerve endings can all be massively destroyed by one event, (remember your teacher clapping to get you attention when you were young :)) or progressively damaged by long term, lower intensity levels. After many years of exposure, I don't hear it anymore, because I DON'T HEAR IT ANYMORE. Yet when exposed to noises not in that frequency range, my hearing has been tested as just as sensitve. I would expect that people who shoot a wide variety of weapons over many years will experience loss across a wide spectrum. If you tend to shoot one weapon, you will become more acclimated to the sound because you tend to lose the nerves in that frequency range. Firing a weapon in an enclosed area may change the dynamics of the sound being transmitted back to your ear and make you more sensitive to the effect the same way as listening to loud music inside vs outside. The dynamics of the environement play a large part in how much sound is transmitted back to you and your own sensitivity to that frequency range will determine your comfort level. At least, that is how my simplistic brain understands it.
 
I think everyone is off the track here. The question involved shooting in self defense. How many shots is that for anyone here? For anyone, even a police officer? How many shots have YOU fired in self defense or in enforcement of the law?

One or two shots, in normal circumstances, are going to do little or no permanent damage to hearing. What is the alternative? Walk around with ear muffs all the time and not hear a car horn? Ask the BG to kindly not shoot until your ear protection is in place?

My view is not to worry about it.

Jim
 
Fortunately, cant answer about the real thing. Had a friend shooting his commander next to me once when my ear plugs fell out. Hurt like hell. Ears rang for a while, half hour or so. Cant imagine what it would sound like indoors. As far as people excluding sound during emergencies. Dont know. Been in 3 car wrecks, one roll over and I heard and saw everything.

Even if you do end up with auditory exclusion the damage will be done to the ear. The sound is still there, the ear drum still reacts to the waves, middle and inner ear still do their thing in translating the sound waves into nerve impulses, your brain just does not pay any attention to them. The good news is unless you are constantly in gun fights or just like pain during your range sessoins you will not loose your hearing or much of it anyway. Kind of like constantly listening to loud music. Over time it will hurt your hearing, but occasionally it really wont do that much damage. I'll bet that as shooters age their hearing as compared to non shooters is a bit worse, but I dont think the difference is as great as some people fear. AS for hunters, my uncle was big into hunting and his hearing was just fine. Now that he is older, in his 60's, his hearing in his left ear is worse than his right. Is it cause he shot a lot without earmufs. Who knows.
 
I've fired a bunch without hearing protection. All of this has been in, shal we say, non-controlled environments. I remember hearing the sound, but it was not as sharp as it would have seemed (and some of these were shotguns!). In discussing this with some of my associates who have also done same, I find some similarities.

I think this may have to do with our minds focusing more on information that we need and disregarding information that we don't. Its kind of like having someone talk to you while you are intently listening to someone else. You hear them, but are not paying attention to them.

Incidently, other things which may have been dismissed as trivial sounds normally, sounded very loud and noticable: the suspect loading rounds into a magazine, the sound of a thumb break retention device opening, a door creaking, etc.


Gabe Suarez
HALO Group http://www.thehalogroup.com
 
Greg, as far as "repeling" a perp. in close quarters in an interior, the report under stress was not noticed until afterwards,the muzzle flash was quite pronounced, room size was approx. 10x12, cal.45acp, Win. Silver Tips, It was nearly 10 years ago. I cant hear the "blast" but I can still see the muzzle flash, hopefully(Lord willing) I will never be put in that possition again.If at all poss. USE hearing protection.Long term? I'm not sure.SC
 
Adding something to what Gabe said, I talked to several LEO's that had been in a "serious social conversation" and they all said that they had not really noticed the sounds of the shots, on either side, but one said he had heard the empty cases hitting the floor, tile not carpeted.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
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