Ear Protection Woes: New Technology for Hunters
By John O'Connor
We all know that firearms tend to be loud. Hunters have used ear protection, but it's often gotten in the way of enjoying the experience, which led to many hunters removing ear protection in order to hear their surroundings or talk to others on the hunt. In other situations, like in indoor shooting ranges, noise exposure levels can get so high, the risk of hearing damage is almost 100 percent greater than in an outdoor shooting range.
We all know that firearms tend to be loud. Hunters have used ear protection, but it's often gotten in the way of enjoying the experience, which led to many hunters removing ear protection in order to hear their surroundings or talk to others on the hunt. In other situations, like in indoor shooting ranges, noise exposure levels can get so high, the risk of hearing damage is almost 100 percent greater than in an outdoor shooting range.
It is inevitable that hunters
wear hearing protection when on a hunt or at the range. If they choose not to wear hearing protection
they are putting themselves at risk for potential permanent hearing damage. My father hunted for many years throughout my
childhood and I would consider him a very experienced marksman, but even he
often did not wear protection while shooting.
Like many other hunters, he is now paying the price for his
actions. Now affected severely by
hearing loss, my father wears hearing aids
to help increase sound levels around him.
Risk Factors
Hunters know that rifles and pistols are loud, but did you know that exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing? Most firearms are actually much louder than this. The small .22 caliber rifle produces around 140 dB while big rifles and pistols can actually go over 175 dB. Ear protection is a must for hunters who want healthy hearing levels as they get older.
Ear Plugs
One of the first levels of hearing protection that hunters can purchase is a set of earplugs. There are a variety of different earplugs, each with a different shape or color, but hunters should look for greater noise protection when buying any kind of ear protection. Earplugs are a great way to initially block out some of the firearm exposure, but they do not offer enough overall protection to the hunter.
Ear Muffs
The second line of defense is known as earmuffs. These are clamshell muffs that slip over the ears much like headphones. They block out all sound normally, thus allowing for hunters to safely use firearms at ranges and out on the hunt. However, it's not the ideal ear protection because of the way that earmuffs, like earplugs, block out all sound, even ambient noises and small talk with others in the hunting party. For these reasons, many hunters choose electronic earmuffs.
Electronic Ear Muffs
Electronic earmuffs are a great way for hunters to protect their hearing. The electronic ear muff is designed like a regular ear muff but instead of blocking out all sound, electronic ear muffs only block sounds greater than 80 dB and amplify lower sounds to make it easier to hear ambient noises and small talk within the hunting party. This is the best resource for hunters who need ear protection and don't want to bother with constantly removing and replacing earmuffs or earplugs.
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| The call of a bob white is something any hard-of-hearing-hunter would miss. |
Hi my
name is John O'Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about
living a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years I have become more
and more interested in hearing loss. My father and grandfathers, who are
and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss. I feel that there is
a general lack of understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread
awareness where we can. Check out my new blog at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!
We'd love to hear your thoughts. Drop us a note . . . Andy
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