Hearing protection vs. hearing damage

I happen to have recently acquired a Peltor SwatTac II electronic muff set. These are the nearly same as the Peltor Com Tac II with the exception that the swat's are black instead of olive drab (there's another difference, but it was minor; some connection choice thing that didn't matter to me).

I heard they were hard to find, but I had no issues. CLICK HERE FOR LINK.

I too wondered about the impulse noise muffling. After spending 90 minutes on the range, however, with everything from a 22, 9mm, 45ACP and a S&W 500 (shooting light loads), I no longer worried about it.

Upon removing the Swat-Tacs, I re-entered the world with no after effects whatsoever. None of my prior non-electronic muffs could do that for me. The fit was better too, so I didn't have the "squeeze" pressure that I had with my prior muffs.

They were well worth the $265 or so I shelled out for them. They made the whole range experience more comfortable.
 
Hearing Damage

Howdy everyone. I was wondering if anyone can help me with a recent problem I am having. I was shooting at an indoor range about a week or so ago. I was wearing muffs at the time, but some guy next to me was firing a hand cannon. I really did not notice until I got home a ringing in my right ear. Fast forward 7-10 days, and I am still experiencing the ringing sound. My hearing is not really muffled, but the ringing has not stopped. I know I should go see a doctor and plan to make an appointment in the am. Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. Suffice it to say, I will be wearing plugs and muffs from now on.
 
I too wondered about the impulse noise muffling. After spending 90 minutes on the range, however, with everything from a 22, 9mm, 45ACP and a S&W 500 (shooting light loads), I no longer worried about it.
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Just a clarification.

The electronic muffs designed as hearing protection will DEFINITELY work against impulse noise such as gunshots.

What I was commenting about was the electronic headphones designed for noise cancellation to quiet a constant noise environment--usually to allow one to better hear the music piped into the headsets. In my opinion as an electrical engineer, that type of noise cancelling headsets would not be suitable for use as hearing protection against impulse noise such as gunshots.
 
poncharello, try wearing an earplug in that ear for a day or so if possible. if the ringing continues then id see an ear Dr.
the ringing is tinnitus.
i get it occasionally in my right ear(too many people trying to make me go boom).


ive got the custom fitted silicon earplugs. you can get them from large motorcycle shows, or hearing aid stores.

mine have a nrr of 29.

i wear them for any shooting, even 22lr.
and all motorcycle riding.
 
John, I can tell you that the noise cancelling head phones (to distinguish them from 'muffs') aren't likely to encapsulate the ears as well in some circumstances. I happen to use a pair on occasion for listening on planes & buses. They cut down on the "white noise" of things very well, but don't do diddly for louder, sharper noises. At least, not any that I've tried.

If you do get a chance to test them, perhaps start out with a 22, then move up to 9mm and see how they do. This assumes you can control what others are doing at the range (or that it's otherwise empty).
 
Troy: I wanted to let you know that I took your advice regarding the ear plugs for tinnitus, and I am happy to say it worked. I would say my hearing is back to normal. Thanks for taking the time. And to any new shooters that may be lucky enough to read the posters on this forum, don't chince on hearing protection. I am lucky I had no loss, but the constant ringing for over one week was enough to drive a person mad. Happy shooting.
 
In science class....

You shoot a gun three times even with protection...you've "Lost" hearing...to late for me.

Source: Handy Science Answer Book
 
I keep a large supply of disposible ear plugs in my range bag. When I go shooting I often notice others not wearing hearing protection. I wear a pair of electronic earmuffs from Cabelas, so I usually offer up my free ear plugs and no one has accepted yet. Once it was a Father and his two sons, he just said they could handle it because they have before. Is this stupidity or ignorance? Free hearing protection equals better hearing. End of story.
 
I never use ear plugs anymore after I suffered permanent hearing loss in my left ear. I disliked cups for competition shooting at first because they were somewhat cumbersome, so I opted for ear plugs. While firing an AR-15 carbine in an underground range, my left ear plug did not fall out of my ear, but unseated so to speak to the point where it did not fully seal my ear drum. I fired a shot before I realized it. Cups stay in place.
 
I have been using plugs and muffs since I was on a college pistol team in 1974, shooting indoors.
It pays to get a proper examination. I went to an ear doctor years ago, told
him I thought I had a hearing problem, I mentioned I had had quite a few earaches as a kid, my maternal aunt went deaf in one ear from the bone growing over. He gave me a very thorough examination, including some needles and other things. Ouch! Then he showe me the results, said I actually had very acute hearing, was hearing things way outside the normal range. Must have been all those superhero comics I read as a kid. I'd have preferred to have superspeed or super strength. Oh well...
 
SIGSHR,

Good to know. I've only been shooting for three years or so but have been doubling up since day one.

I still wonder if I'm getting enough protection, but there's nothing more I can do.

Either way, I'm going to get my hearing checked. I love shooting, and I don't want to have to give it up.
 
This has been a really good thread, but I'd like to throw another variable into the equation...

I've heard (no pun intended) that regardless of a combination of ear muffs and plugs, you get a maximum sound reduction of between 35 dB to 40 dB, notwithstanding numbers already mentioned. The rest comes from something called Induction.

This refers to the sound that enters through the body cavities. THrough the skull itself, through the hollow parts of the throat (even when your mouth is closed), through reverberation from the chest cavity.....you get the idea.

Does anyone have any knowledge on induction? Apparently it can be reduced with things like a ballistic helmet, body armour, etc., but I don't know if this is true or not. Anybody got anything on this.....?
 
That's one reason that it's advisable to use muffs even if you are using earplugs. The muffs cover more of the area around your ears and therefore reduce some of the sound energy that would normally be transmitted to the ear canal via the bones of the skull, particularly those immediately adjacent to the ear canal.

I have not seen numbers on the noise reduction provided by helmets, but I can tell you that Doug Koenig has been known to wear a motorcycle helmet (presumably over ear plugs) during some of his matches. I suspect that it would go a long way towards reducing noise transmitted to the ear canal via the bones of the skull.
 
I am lucky I had no loss, but the constant ringing for over one week was enough to drive a person mad. Happy shooting.
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There has been some loss, unfortunately. Impulse noises strong enough to cause Tinnitus for a solid week, have already damaged your hearing. It is accumulative, so it won't seem to be a loss for many years. Also, Tinnitus can go away and may return at any time. Some of us live with it every day. Do yourself a favor and double-up as has been said. I found out that muffs alone were not enough when shooting my .44 mag indoors a long time ago. The pressure change actually hurt my ears, though the boom didn't seem like much. That was the first time I doubled up and I've done it ever since, even if I am shooting .22LR. As you found out, there is never any control over what somebody else might be shooting. Double up with the best you can find, and happy shooting.
 
Good info, but like many others to late for me. I wear good protection now, but a little to late. When your young you think your bullet proof but we are not. Handguns will really ring your ears up. Alot of mine happened in the Army shooting for prolong periods with really cheap hearing protection. Unless I am hunting I have a good head set on now.
 
Ringing in the ears

I have had maj surgery with tinnitus and the removal of tumor and left inner ear;
along with sever of vestibular nerve do to tinnitus and minears disease. Which I took an early med-retirement from usps. It has been no fun the ringing is 24/7. Loud nose puts me through the roof especially when those youngesters drive by with the windows of my home rattleing. It has messed up my life as well as being a singer/songwriter. I still go on--you have to.
Yes I still hunt and shoot my guns with proper hearing protection. Honestly I can't stand the ringing as put by a family member who studied med in france
It drives you nuts. I have had every kind of test as far as hearing goes.
Had one of the best surgeons who was with the american tinnitus assoc
out of portland oregon. I look at these young kids today who are into the boom-box auto as I call it and shake my head after holding my ears till they pass by. I just wish they knew what they were doing to others as well as themselves.
DaveShooter
 
FWIW, I'll be sitting down with a gentleman from our National Acoustic lab here next week. I'm talking about setting a standard for electronic hearing protection for our department. If I glean anything useful - plug/muff combos, induction via body cavities, tinnitus, pressure, etc. - I'll post it here.

Watch this space.
 
Who knew id be reading this today ...over 50 years to late
try to imagine what it`s like to be a torpedoman on a destroyer during general quarters ...the only men with some form of ear protection were the telephone talkers .
(communications between the bridge and the gun mounts )
not just hearing loss but loose teeth . cotton balls just dont do it .
 
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