Earplugs in the Field

[George1990]

After reading an article in the Shooting Gazette, I discovered that the blast from a shotgun is more than I expected (170 decibels). Of course when I go clay shooting I have me ears plugged all the time, but if I'm just walking round the field scaring the odd pigeon out before I start on the clays, I never put them in. I want to hear em flap out of the trees. Apparently this is very unwise, as it causes immediate damage.

 

Who else does this or doesn't bother at all?

[Harnser]

What? i carnt hear you i have been shooting to long with out ear defenders . Dont finish up like me and have a hearing loss do to shooting without ear defenders . Ther are ear defenders out there that will inhance your hearing electronicly and protect your hearing . When i was a young man you wouldnt have worn ear defenders because you would have been branded a woosy . Mind you a bit of deafness can come in handy ,as the old saying goes ,theres non so deaf as those who dont want to hear . Harnser .

[stokie]

I dont bother in the field but always wear them when shooting clays. Have tried wearing them but all you can hear is your own foot steps .Cant afford the fancy digital one so I guess when I have saved up enough to buy them I`ll already be deaf

[JohnGalway]

Because of not wearing hearing protection when using centrefire rifles and shotguns (in the field only)....

 

I have lost 50% hearing clarity in my left ear, and 20% clarity in my right. What does that mean? It means I don't have a problem hearing the loudness of things. It means I have quite a lot of problems hearing certain parts of words under certain conditions. Such as in a noisy place, in pubs or crowds, or if people are talking looking away from me.

 

You may think it's not a problem, it bloody well is. A lot fo the time you don't know what's going on and I am fed up asking people to repeat themselves so I don't bother asking now.

 

Not finished yet either.

 

Look up Tinittus. I have it. For me, because it can differ from person to person, it's a high pitched squealing in both ears. It doesn't switch off. It's there 24/7. Peace and quiet no longer exists. Try getting to sleep with it. Try concentrating on something.

 

wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

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eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

The funny bit is this, mines not even anywhere near serious.

 

Think about that.

 

Want it?

 

Wear ear defenders. End of.

Edited November 9, 2008 by JohnGalway

[Cranfield]

I also started shooting long before ear protection was really considered.

As a result of not wearing it in the field, I have a reduction in hearing in both ears, with the left ear being noticeably worse.

 

I have worn ear protection (in ear type) for the last 20 years and I would urge any shooter to take the necessary steps to protect their hearing.

Even the little foam plugs are better than nothing.

[George1990]

As I thought, thanks chaps. Might get some of those ones with the valves in that supposedly let you hear normally but close when there's a loud bang (like a shotgun for instance! ) Get 'em for under a tenner. Use wax ones at the moment and you hear a thing with those.

 

Stokie, you can't put a price on your hearing!

[Beardo]

i use the big foam plugs and stick them in really lightly (easily done when i'm wearing a balaclava, not so easy without) - that way i can still hear pretty well, but still cut down the blast

[Imperfection]

My left ear was operated on when i was a kid due to literally rotting away inside (yuk!) and since then i've only had around 50% hearing on that side so understandably-i look after what little i have! I always wear hearing protection when shooting.

[southernlad]

I've also got tinitus. It's not fun I can tell you. And it NEVER GOES. I have a high pitched singing in my right ear and a slightly lower hum in my left. Does your head in when you're trying to get to sleep sometimes and apparently mine's not even that bad! Protect your hearing always, you'll regret it if you end up with tinitus, or even worse deaf.

 

 

SL

[JohnGalway]

The only part of today I enjoyed was when driving, and that was because the road noise and radio masked the tinnitus.

 

New career maybe.

 

Oh yes, that's another aspect of it, if you go for a job that needs a hearing test chances are you won't pass it.

[Flashman]

There were several threads recently suggesting "in ear" plugs don't work as well the larger ear muff style - something about the bones in the ear still being affected.

 

The electronic ones start at about the same price as 500 cartridges - a no brainer when put in those terms.

[dogfox]

when shooting in a hide i wear plugs sometimes, but when out for the foxes or just walking i dont, as its inconvenient when you cant hear whats going on around you, besides, your not firing off 50+carts in a short space of time.

i agree though, when clay shooting or decoying plugs are a necessity

[Dunkield]

I find plugs are fine for shotguns, but use proper muffs/cans for rifle shooting

The only 'problem' with the sonic plugs is they seem to almost amplify wind noise, a small price to pay.

[Cranfield]

There were several threads recently suggesting "in ear" plugs don't work as well the larger ear muff style - something about the bones in the ear still being affected.

 

The electronic ones start at about the same price as 500 cartridges - a no brainer when put in those terms.

 

The "in ear plugs" that are made to measure by Emtec are very effective and much more practical when field shooting than the ear muff types IMO.

I kept catching them with the gun when I tried them out.

Each to their own.

[JohnGalway]

when shooting in a hide i wear plugs sometimes, but when out for the foxes or just walking i dont, as its inconvenient when you cant hear whats going on around you, besides, your not firing off 50+carts in a short space of time.

i agree though, when clay shooting or decoying plugs are a necessity

 

 

The "in ear plugs" that are made to measure by Emtec are very effective and much more practical when field shooting than the ear muff types IMO.

I kept catching them with the gun when I tried them out.

Each to their own.

 

 

I've had to speak to both proper medical people and also people trained in hearing testing and these people were in their respective fields for many years. Ear plugs won't fully protect you, as sound also travels through the bone behind the ear. One of the tests I had to do involved devices places on this bone, while my actual ears were covered, to measure what I could hear through that area.

 

As for the 50+ carts. It's fact that one loud noise will damage your hearing. It can happen at just one time, or it can build up over time. Then once your hearing is damaged it doesn't heal.

 

I'm 30, by right I should be wearing hearing aid in my left ear, and another in my right would "help" but I'm too stubborn to get either. I've been shooting for three years or so.

 

I'll moderate my rifles, until then I'm using Peltor ear defenders. Yes, they annoy me, but I can't afford to damage my hearing anymore than I have.

 

I'm sort of sitting here now thinking about some of the comments about needing to hear what's going on around people. Seriously, I don't think ye're taking in what people who've damaged themselves are telling ye. There'll come a point where ye can't hear things, it won't be something ye'll be able to reverse.

 

Learn by other peoples mistakes.

[malkiserow]

Does anyone have actual figures for the effectiveness of different types of ear/hearing protectors?

 

And given the hunting situation where hearing what is going on around you, what advice there is for a balance of being able to hear and protecting our ears and the same time?

[pigeon controller]

Always wear some protection even if it's the yellow foam cylinders.

 

I've lost 75% in my left ear and 50% in my right along with tinnitus only because I was to Macho to wear defenders when I was shooting.

 

Once you've lost it it won'nt come back!!!!

 

Pigeon Controller

[Cranfield]

I've had to speak to both proper medical people and also people trained in hearing testing and these people were in their respective fields for many years. Ear plugs won't fully protect you, as sound also travels through the bone behind the ear. One of the tests I had to do involved devices places on this bone, while my actual ears were covered, to measure what I could hear through that area.

 

JG, I was told by a Consultant at the old ENT Hospital in Maidstone that although you feel vibration (part of which is noise) from the bones at the rear of the ear, most of the damage from intermittent loud noise is through the earhole itself.

 

Persistent noise (of any volume) is what damages the ear through the aforementioned bones (and often causes tinitis).

 

It surprises me that some shooters seem to think that they can worry about ear protection at a later date.

As if you get lots of warning that your hearing is suffering and thats the time to do something about it.

You don't get any warning, it is a slow, but steady deterioration and is incurable once its gone.

[dustyfox]

I've had to speak to both proper medical people and also people trained in hearing testing and these people were in their respective fields for many years. Ear plugs won't fully protect you, as sound also travels through the bone behind the ear. One of the tests I had to do involved devices places on this bone, while my actual ears were covered, to measure what I could hear through that area.

 

As for the 50+ carts. It's fact that one loud noise will damage your hearing. It can happen at just one time, or it can build up over time. Then once your hearing is damaged it doesn't heal.

 

I'm 30, by right I should be wearing hearing aid in my left ear, and another in my right would "help" but I'm too stubborn to get either. I've been shooting for three years or so.

 

I'll moderate my rifles, until then I'm using Peltor ear defenders. Yes, they annoy me, but I can't afford to damage my hearing anymore than I have.

 

I'm sort of sitting here now thinking about some of the comments about needing to hear what's going on around people. Seriously, I don't think ye're taking in what people who've damaged themselves are telling ye. There'll come a point where ye can't hear things, it won't be something ye'll be able to reverse.

 

Learn by other peoples mistakes.

 

I agree, 170db is like 100 times over the safest noise level a jet fighter engine is 140 dB and they a load as.

 

There are crystels in the cochlea that detect high and low frequency sounds and once they are broken they dont grow back. You usually lose the high pitched ones first then eventually the low pithced ones. So this "the odd shot wont harm" it will you just wont notice till its to late for you to notice.

[Dunkield]

I never ceased to be amazed by people who take their kids to a clay shoot and wear plugs or cans but lave the kids standing behind them with no hearing protection at all. Madness.

[pumpitup]

Ive always got a pair of £5 ear duffs and the cheapo yellow foam things with me, just aint worth the risk in later life.

[Markio]

I agree, 170db is like 100 times over the safest noise level a jet fighter engine is 140 dB and they a load as.

 

There are crystels in the cochlea that detect high and low frequency sounds and once they are broken they dont grow back. You usually lose the high pitched ones first then eventually the low pithced ones. So this "the odd shot wont harm" it will you just wont notice till its to late for you to notice.

 

 

Dusty's guessing yet again, here you go: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/Sounds/Decibles.htm

 

100 times over my ****, 20db is a mosquito buzzing.

 

EDIT: I had also read/heard of the gradual effect, that 50 shots do the same damage, over 1 hour or 1 year. I still have my Peltor Shotgunner ear defenders but that get in the way of my new gun so i use the in ear foam types. I do prefer to use the Peltors though.

Edited November 11, 2008 by Markio

[Jan147]

As a kid I spent a lot of time in paddocks at motor racing circuits and trackside and wore them then due to the high decibel noise.

 

when i shoot either clays or game I allways wear ear muffs and would not dream of shooting without them.

 

 

Cannot believe when i see people with teenagers at clay grounds and they have no ear protection. Why do people think because they are young it does not affect them?

 

 

Money buys a lot of things but you cannot buy your hearing back once you have lost it. Small price to pay when you buy protection but if you dont you will be paying for the rest of your life.

[alexm]

Dusty's guessing yet again, here you go: http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Technical/Sounds/Decibles.htm

 

100 times over my ****, 20db is a mosquito buzzing.

 

To be fair to Dusty he is right... the decibel scale is logarithmic, it goes in powers of ten, hence 150db is 10 times more intense than 140db and 160db is 100 times more intense than 140 db.

Edited November 11, 2008 by alexm

[webber]

I've written about this on PW some years ago, so will keep it brief.

 

Any of the PW members who know me, also know that my hearing is wrecked.

 

Many years ago, well before I started shooting, I was an engineer in a glass works. The noise level was regularly recorded at 157db. I wore ear muffs, and ear plugs combined. The noise was so intense on occasions that it felt like you could feel your brain vibrating inside your skull. The work was very hot, very dirty, very loud, some times dangerous, but very well paid. Unfortunately I have paid the price since.

 

Shoot without hearing protection at your peril; you can not escape. Hearing loss and tinnitus is no joke, you can not back track, nor repair any damage done.

 

webber