PinnedAndRecessed
member
- Joined
- Aug 10, 2004
- Messages
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We're all interested in the shooting sports and how it impacts our hearing. Noise hurts us and is measured in decibel levels.
Here are some examples. Video arcades - (110 dB), firecrackers - (125-155 dB at a distance of 10 feet), live music concerts - (120 dB and above) , gunshots - (150-167 dB), movie theatres - (118 dB), health clubs and aerobic studios (120 dB), sporting events (127 dB), motorboats - (85-115 dB), motorcycles - (95-120 dB), snowmobiles - (99 dB) , "boom cars" - (140 dB and above).
Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.
Note that some earplugs only reduce the noise 15 dB. If you’re shooting a gun at 167dB, the noise level is still 152dB.
Simultaneous use of earplugs and muffs usually adds 10 to 15dB more protection than either used alone. I use cheap muffs and cheap plugs. If they’re only providing the minimum protection level, then I’m still suffering hearing loss while shooting. Plus, muffs won’t seal around glasses. (I wear glasses.)
I’m making an appointment with an audiologist this week to figure it out.
Here are some examples. Video arcades - (110 dB), firecrackers - (125-155 dB at a distance of 10 feet), live music concerts - (120 dB and above) , gunshots - (150-167 dB), movie theatres - (118 dB), health clubs and aerobic studios (120 dB), sporting events (127 dB), motorboats - (85-115 dB), motorcycles - (95-120 dB), snowmobiles - (99 dB) , "boom cars" - (140 dB and above).
Gradual hearing loss may occur after prolonged exposure to 90 decibels or above.
Exposure to 100 decibels for more than 15 minutes can cause hearing loss.
Exposure to 110 decibels for more than a minute can cause permanent hearing loss.
Properly fitted earplugs or muffs reduce noise 15 to 30 dB. The better earplugs and muffs are approximately equal in sound reductions, although earplugs are better for low frequency noise and earmuffs for high frequency noise.
Note that some earplugs only reduce the noise 15 dB. If you’re shooting a gun at 167dB, the noise level is still 152dB.
Simultaneous use of earplugs and muffs usually adds 10 to 15dB more protection than either used alone. I use cheap muffs and cheap plugs. If they’re only providing the minimum protection level, then I’m still suffering hearing loss while shooting. Plus, muffs won’t seal around glasses. (I wear glasses.)
I’m making an appointment with an audiologist this week to figure it out.