.38 Special
Member
- Joined
- Sep 15, 2006
- Messages
- 7,382
Sadly, this doesn't actually work. Merely opening the mouth doesn't open the eustachian tubes. It takes a particular maneuver - like the Valsalva - to do that. Moreover, open eustachian tubes don't reduce the sound pressure levels at the inner ear.Having spent years building and firing cannons I can say that muffs + plugs will still get ear damage.
Another component nobody seems to talk about is to keep your mouth shut when firing. The concussion pressure wave can enter through your mouth and attack your ear drums from the other side through the Eustachian tube.
This is why the Valsalva maneuver can clear your ears after an air pressure change, like when flying.
The same pressure wave can attack your ears through your nose.
This is why infantry troops (who don’t wear ear plugs) are told to open their mouth before an explosion, so the pressure wave hits the eardrums from both sides, equalizing the pressure on the eardrum. If you are wearing ear plugs opening your mouth makes things worse because you are allowing the pressure wave in from only one side of the eardrum.
(I really don't mean to be picking on people, but it would be a shame for folks to think they are preventing hearing loss with these tips.)
Last edited: