Why do people wear earplugs when shooting?

Table of Contents Show

Why is hunting without hearing protection dangerous?
All about hunter's ear
Symptoms of hearing loss
How to protect your hearing
It dulls the noise
Hearing loss isn’t always gradual
The side-effects range in severity
How to protect your ears while shooting and hunting
What should you do if you spot the signs of hearing loss?
Should I wear earplugs when shooting?
Is shooting with ear protection safe?

Ear protection matters in a great many situations in life, from protecting the ears during music concerts to ensuring that you are wearing it while operating power tools. Another situation you should be concerned with hearing protection includes hunting. The problem is that it's often ignored by hunters using firearms as they concentrate on their sport without regard for their hearing health.

Every single shot from a gun, however, is behind the erosion of the hair cells in the inner ears and when you are out hunting, hearing is an important tool to ensure that you pick up disturbances around you. Understanding the dangers of hunting without ear protection is important if you want to ensure that you are protected during your sport.

Why is hunting without hearing protection dangerous?

Firearms are held up close to the face when being shot during hunting season, and just one blast from a firearm can send your ears ringing. Shooting firearms will cause damage to the hearing when hunting, and even just when in the range and not personally firing a gun yourself. A gunshot or two may not sound like much, but it's never just a gunshot or two and when even one shot can damage your hearing.

A single blast of a shotgun reached up to 165 decibels and while we need to keep volume at or below 85 decibels for comfort, that's more than double the volume you should be hearing. This volume range is louder than a jet engine at 100 feet, which is only at 140dB. Even a loud rock concert is quieter than a shotgun, and the loudest recommended noise exposure is 140dB, but it will hurt your hearing from 125dB.

So, if that is the safe range for noise, a shotgun blast at 165dB is not acceptable for your inner ear. One gunshot at a time may not sound like much, but it can cause you permanent hearing damage even with the exposure being in the short term.

Bird hunters are most at risk of hearing loss while hunting compared to other hunter types. This is largely because they are shooting multiple rounds in a day and are usually socializing with other hunters, too. Hearing damage isn't unique to hunting, but they do have to deal with something called hunter's ear.

All about hunter's ear

In most hunting circles, this is known as the shooter's ear. It's a condition that is caused by the way the hunter is exposed to noise from a gunshot and it causes asymmetrical hearing loss as a result. The ear that is facing the blast from the muzzle takes the hit from the noise, and as this level is so high, hearing loss is often the outcome.

It can be instant loss to hearing when this occurs, and over time it gets worse. Over the non-dominant ear, there is an ear shadow, where the head is the buffer and there is still an impact for hearing in that ear but not as much as the dominant ear. As the hair cells are affected by sound, they begin to bend and this causes the pores at the end of the hairs to open up.

This creates the electrical signals carried to the brain and this is converted to sound. When there is noise-induced hearing loss present, the hair cells are destroyed and they don't grow back. Once they're damaged, that's it.

Every time you are exposed to loud noises at this level, there is a chance of losing your hearing. Most of the time, hearing loss is gradual, but the louder intermittent sounds that occur as a result of gunshots can cause as much damage as rupturing the eardrum when it is loud enough.

Symptoms of hearing loss

The symptoms of hearing loss occur over time when the loss is gradual, but in some cases, loss is instant and tinnitus is one symptom to look for. This loud ringing in the ears is a good sign your hearing is damaged, but other effects include:

Sound distortion
Inability to hear people when they talk
Tinnitus
Temporary full hearing loss. This can take up to 48 hours to come back.

How to protect your hearing

When you seek out professional help at Beck Hearing Aid Center, you will learn the best types of hearing protection from your audiologist. Call us today at 519-438-0492 for more information on the right hearing protection and you will be given expert advice that will help you to keep your hearing intact while you are on the range. The benefit of hearing protection is obvious, so take advantage today!

Try our FREE online hearing test today. Click the button below to get started.

Hunting and shooting are two very popular pastimes in the United States. If you enjoy these hobbies, you understand the need to remain safe at all times and to protect your hearing health and wellbeing. Therefore, you might wonder whether it’s essential to wear protection during a session.

The truth is that ear protection, such as earmuffs or earplugs, is imperative because they add an extra layer of security. It’s tempting to assume that your hearing is the last thing you should protect, yet it’s probably the most vulnerable part of your person.

Here is a selection of the reasons wearing earplugs is critical for hunters and shooters, and the options available concerning protection.

It dulls the noise

As a rule, the higher the decibel level, the louder the sound. And, it’s the decibels that have the biggest impact on your hearing, causing you to experience side-effects such as tinnitus and an inability to make out sounds. It’s crucial to remember that the noise a gun creates is substantial, with the NIDCD reporting that an average hunting rifle can release a 140-decibel blast.

Any audiologist will inform you that the protective layers of the material enable ear protection to absorb the majority of the noise – from 20 to 30 dB – at close range. When this happens, the bones and hairs in your inner-ear are less exposed.

Hearing loss isn’t always gradual

Usually, you would expect your hearing to decline over time. This occurs when hearing loss is natural, not when a foreign noise or object is to blame. With a decibel level of 140-plus, it’s vital to realize that any atrophy occurs very suddenly. After all, the ear cells might be damaged beyond repair.

Thankfully, ear protection methods let you take part in your favorite hobby without having to fret about the short and long-term consequences. Earmuffs and earplugs are effective to the point where you can enjoy regular hunting or shooting sessions if they are to a high standard.

The side-effects range in severity

Do you assume that hearing loss is only concentrated to your ears? This is the biggest mistake people make because the side-effects are wide-ranging. They include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

Cardiovascular disease
Cognitive impairment
Depression
Risk of balance issues, such as trips and falls
Social issues
Isolation

Many other challenges are associated with hearing loss, some that you might not recognize at first, so it’s important to take care of your ears to prevent future issues. The impacts of untreated hearing loss can escalate, too, which is why it’s better to nip in the bud early.

How to protect your ears while shooting and hunting

In a perfect world, the solution would be as straightforward as wearing earplugs or earmuffs. However, they pose problems for shooters and hunters, including being uncomfortable and taking away from the experience. The latter is easy when you block out noises as you can’t hear the sounds of the animals giving themselves away.

So, what are the alternatives? Here are the best ear protection methods currently.

Earmuffs: Because they are designed to fit your head snugly, earmuffs reduce the majority of sounds, even at close range. If you’re worried about your hearing, these are the easiest and most effective options.
Earplugs: Earplugs are brilliant for people who don’t enjoy the closeness of earmuffs. Earmuffs are tight, which impacts everything from your form to your mentality – you won’t shoot straight if you’re not focused on the target. As they are small and slender, you’ll hardly notice that you’re wearing them.
Active ear protection: The two methods above are classed as passive ear protection. Active ear protection is different because it decides which noises are friendly and lets them pass into the ear canal. Therefore, hunters can continue to stalk their prey by listening for telltale sounds without worrying about them being drowned out.

Active earplugs, typically electronic, are fast becoming the go-to choice for hunters and shooters who want to strike the ideal balance between their art and health.

What should you do if you spot the signs of hearing loss?

You should speak to a qualified and certified audiologist straight away to limit the damage and maintain your hearing. Not only can an expert provide ear protection advice, but they can also fit devices to boost your hearing.

At the Quality Hearing & Audiology Center, our trained audiologists are on hand to evaluate your hearing and provide their professional opinion on what steps to take next. Call 816-233-0022 now to find out more.

Should I wear earplugs when shooting?

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health actually recommends using both earplugs and earmuffs together when shooting. It might come as a surprise to hear that earplugs can actually offer more protection than ear muffs, because ear plugs fully block the ear canal.

Is shooting with ear protection safe?

Types of Hearing Protection The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends wearing both earplugs and earmuffs together when shooting any firearms.