Some questions re: hearing loss

[Robinson]

Just wondering if anyone on the forum might have some expertise, experience, or even opinion to share on this topic.

About 10-12 years ago I was exposed to gunfire outdoors without hearing protection. I immediately had ringing in my ears and my left ear was pretty badly damaged. Since then I have dealt with difficulty hearing conversations, etc... plus sensitivity to loud high-pitched noises. Plus sometimes I get slightly depressed about it and start feeling sorry for myself until I HTFU and move on.

I've accepted that if I ever have to fire a handgun without hearing protection it will destroy what hearing I have left in my left ear.

Lately I have started to think the problem is slowly getting worse and the hearing in my left ear is continuing to degrade. I shoot at indoors ranges 3-4 times per month, and I always double up on earpro. What I don't know is if the shooting, even with good protection, is slowly affecting my left ear or if it is just the natural progression of the problem.

If shooting is causing me to lose what hearing I have left in that ear it presents a conundrum. I shoot to keep my skills up, but also because it's something I enjoy. But it's probably not worth it if it causes me to go completely deaf in one ear.

Does anyone have similar experience they can discuss? Or perhaps an opinion on how shooting might contribute to the problem over time? I will probably see a specialist at some point -- but who knows if that person is an expert on exactly how shooting with hearing protection does or does not further degrade impaired hearing.

[1slow]

Double up on earpro. Make sure your hair is not under the earpro hurting the seal. Wear a hat, their is some evidence to suggest that hearing can be damaged through bone and fluid conduction of sound damaging your ears. A hat covering your forehead etc... may mitigate this.
Stay away from muzzlebraked .50 BMG rifles etc.. Some years back I was told of a study that showed that exposure to .50 BMG braked rifles would damage your hearing even with earpro. I do not know the details of the test protocol etc...

I have had ringing for the past 30 years. It gets worse when fatigued.

[5pins]

I would not wait to see an expert, I would see one now.

[Unisaw]

My doc told me that the cheapest way to get an initial hearing test is to get it done at Costco. I actually have an appointment for this afternoon. She cautioned that they will immediately launch into a sales pitch if there is a deficiency but that just about everyplace else will do the same thing. They're all in business to make money.

[benEzra]

Also, avoid listening to music/speech via headphones or ear buds, unless they are the really good headphones that seal over your ear and cancel out ambient noise (allowing you to keep the volume very low). I have been a shooting enthusiast for decades without impairment (I've always doubled up on plugs and muffs), but then spent a few months using using headphones to drown out loud coworkers in an office, and I noticed a bit of loss after that.

[Newbie]

When shooting indoors or outdoors, I recommend that you double up on hearing protection with ear plugs and ear muffs with the highest NRR you can find. Ear plugs can be found with NRR of 33, and ear muffs with NRR of 35. I'm not sure if manufactures contract with independent laboratories to determine NRRs, but I go by what's listed on the packaging.

It is important that you put the plugs in in accordance with the directions for maximum benefit. Ear muffs need to fit you properly; this will help reduce the chances of hearing loss through bone conduction.

I also recommend getting annual hearing tests. You should get one right away to determine any deficiencies, and to establish a baseline. You should retain a printout for comparison with future annual testing.

I also recommend that you stay away from end ports at indoor ranges - my experience is that shooting at ports alongside walls appear louder.

If possible, refrain from shooting centerfire rifles, shotguns, and magnum loads indoors.

Another safety issue...I also recommend wearing a respirator while shooting indoors to minimize lead and zinc exposure - blood tests are available to determine your levels.

[JRB]

In addition to shooting, I worked with club/studio/stage sound systems and lighting for several years as a side gig.

Most of the time, during the night, I'd be in the DJ booth right next to the DJ under some gajillion-watt studio monitors connected to the same circuit playing all the music. Even when wearing ear plugs I'd have some ringing in my ears after just about every night I worked.

Around the same time, though (2006-ish) a few studies came out showing significantly reduced permanent hearing loss if one takes Vitamin E and Aspirin just before or within 24 hours after the exposure to damage-inducing sound. Other tech guys and myself and some DJ's started diligently taking Vitamin E and Aspirin after each night, and most of us found that the ringing went away much more quickly and without any perceivable further damage. I've continued this practice after being around loud gunfire (50 cals, etc) as well as after going to a concert or similar. Obviously that doesn't replace good earpro, but it does seem to help me - but I am not a doctor, and seeing a hearing specialist seems like a good idea in your case.

While I do have some permanent hearing damage between that job and my time in the Army, it isn't enough to affect my military physical profile.

[Robinson]

Thanks everyone for the replies. As I mentioned in the OP, I do always double up on earpro -- I mostly wonder if my damaged ear is more fragile now and is taking additional damage from shooting even with proper earpro.

I also notice that .45ACP sounds much louder to me at the range than 9mm, though I believe 9mm is louder in terms of decibels.

[rsa-otc]

Grew up in the 70's. Ear pro for .22 wasn't considered necessary, neither was wearing ear pro while hunting. Both were bad JuJu for yours truly . Add loud motors at the race track, on our hot rods and in the tractor trailers of our families company; also coupled with experiencing inner and outer ear infections at least 2 to 3 times per year while growing up it's a wonder that I have any hearing left at all. Both ears constantly ring with the left ear more so than the right. I actually have to concentrate on what I want to hear the TV, my wife etc. to the exclusion of anything else if I want to understand what else is going on around me. Protect your ears today. See a Specialist. Once gone it can never be recovered.

[rsa-otc]

Thanks everyone for the replies. As I mentioned in the OP, I do always double up on earpro -- I mostly wonder if my damaged ear is more fragile now and is taking additional damage from shooting even with proper earpro.

I also notice that .45ACP sounds much louder to me at the range than 9mm, though I believe 9mm is louder in terms of decibels.

A lot depends on the range of your hearing loss. My loss is mostly in the upper end, right were my wife's voice registers, lucky me, it can be a blessing and a curse. Generally most hearing loss is in the upper register were the high crack of a 9mm resides and that is why a 9mm sounds softer, because you can't hear it.