If you’re keen on shooting, you’ll want to protect yourself. It’s an enjoyable hobby, but it comes with its risks. Most people don’t think about hearing protection for shooting until it’s too late. When the damage is already done, it’s irreversible. It’s said that we do damage to our hearing when we subject our ears to sounds above ninety decibels (90 dB) in volume over a period of eight hours of more. This continues onwards, so that we can only listen to 100 dB of sound for two hours, and 115 dB for a mere fifteen minutes. Pain levels become intolerable at 130 dB. That’s the volume of sound that would emit from a jet engine if we were stood a mere 100 meters from it.
Decibels don’t work in a linear fashion – they double with every 3 dB increase, so if you have hearing protectors that reduce sound levels by 10 dB, they’re two times as effective as hearing protectors that reduce sound levels by 7 dB. Hearing protection for shooting is particularly important because at just one meter from your body, a .30-06 Springfield Rifle will emit a sound of up to 171 dB in volume. That’s higher than the pain threshold, and it’s easily loud enough to do permanent damage to your hearing.
Clamshell hearing protectors are effective if they create a seal around your ears. They include ear plugs, ear muffs and electronic hearing protection. For shooting, they’re all viable options, though it’s best to take note of the volume of your gun and the protection offered by a particular set of ear muffs or earplugs. To increase your level of hearing protection, you can wear ear plugs underneath your ear muffs.
If you don’t wear appropriate hearing protection for shooting, you’ll find over time that the hair cells (stereocilia) and auditory nerves in your ear will be damaged. Each time you hear the ringing sound in your ear, you’re losing one hair cell. It’s an individual note you’ll never hear again. Once it’s ended, it’s gone from your life forever. When you shoot without hearing protection, you risk losing a number of hair cells in a short amount of time. Older shooters who’ve not protected their hearing often end up close to being deaf in their old age.
The long-term effects of shooting without the appropriate hearing protection are muffled and distorted hearing for life. Often, people notice the symptoms far too late, when they’re struggling to understand speech or pick up on the tune of a song. It’s important to wear high quality hearing protection, whether you’re spending an hour a week enjoying your hobby, or are shooting every day. You can compare prices and find reviews for a great deal online, but never sacrifice quality for a cheap deal. Your ears are important, and your hearing can’t ever be replaced. When you buy hearing protection, make sure you’re taking the time to consider your options. Don’t end up regretting your hobby – enjoy it worry free!
