Is Hearing Loss/Damage Inevitable W/Indoor Ranges?

[schmeky]

I have noticed tinnatus (ringing in the ears) lately which is the silia (auditory nerve endings) in the inner ear dying. I shoot exclusively at an indoor range every Sunday afternoon. I'm pretty upset because I know this loss is irreversible.

I always wear expanding foam ear plugs with ear muffs, and I realize my muffs are probably a cheapo pair; I use the blue Smith & Wesson "suppressor" ear muffs.

I'm going to buy a pair of muffs rated at 29-31 db reduction rating this week and see wht happens.

Any thoughts?

 

[CrankyOldGuy]

I noticed a major advantage with a new pair of electronic muffs. I too suffer from some hearing loss. I can't even notice the "boom" but can hear voices, shot echos and impacts.

You ears will love you...try 'em.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Unfortunately, it may be inevitable indoors. Better protection will slow it, so upgrade for sure.

I've had tinnitus for years myself, and learned a few months ago that I have some hearing loss. Surprisingly, it is NOT Shooter's Ear (high-frequency notch) but low-frequency. So to all the people who told me shooting was ruining my hearing: It was childhood ear infections.

The ringing (or crickets or whistling) is annoying though.

 

[zammyman]

If you get a good pair of electronic ear muffs that should really help. The few times I've shot at indoor ranges it does seem to echo.. over and over.. and hurt. I'd agree:...

I noticed a major advantage with a new pair of electronic muffs. I too suffer from some hearing loss. I can't even notice the "boom" but can hear voices, shot echos and impacts.

 

[pps]

What?!

 

[Oro]

No, it's not inevitable if you are using good protection...

If you are consistent about using both foam plugs and muffs, I would NOT jump to the conclusion the tinnitus is from shooting. That combination will provide a high degree of protection in almost any ear-damaging scenario.

This is a pretty common disease of aging, and unless you are in your 20s or 30s, I'd say it's more likely because of damage elsewhere, or a natural process. Also, tinnitus can be a symptom of other problems, such as an auditory neuroma, microaneurysms in the brain, and Meniere's disease, among others.

If you are consistent about using the hearing protection, I would LEAST suspect the indoor shooting, though it is possible. If you find the indoor shooting is worsening the condition, then stop and find an outdoor range, but still of course use the ear protection.

 

[.38 Special]

Ouch. "Don't worry, mate. It might just be a little ringing in your ears, but it could also be a stroke, an incurable disease, or a tumor. So buck up!"

With friends like that...

 

[ChemicalArts]

I use the expanding foam ear plugs and the electronic ear muffs as well. It's important to make sure your ear plugs are installed properly--I'm always surprised at how many people have them barely covering the ear canal. They have to expand just inside the ear canal (obviously not too far) to maximize protection. Then with the electronic ear muffs, I turn up the volume just loud enough to hear other people's voices.

If you continue to get ringing, talk to your doc about it just in case it's something else.

 

[alaskanativeson]

I don't anticipate it being as much of a problem when I get the suppressor for my .45 Auto. (Yes, I'll still be wearing my ear muffs.)

 

[BCRider]

I have to agree with Oro above. Using double protection should be way more than enough assuming the muffs fit all around the padding.

Keep in mind that even one small gap will allow a lot of noise to come through. Older muffs may suffer from hardening of the pads and leave a gap.

The current issue may well be from noise exposure from years ago. The damage is accumulative. It may have just caught up to you.

 

[Oro]

Ouch. "Don't worry, mate. It might just be a little ringing in your ears, but it could also be a stroke, an incurable disease, or a tumor. So buck up!"

With friends like that...

Umm, you are the one making a joke/making light out of this, not me. I did not say "don't worry..." I was suggesting those other sources as food for thought. Don't just blame it on the shooting, but realize that if it doesn't go away, a visit to his/her physician is the right thing. I was trying to heighten awareness of other, more troubling but treatable causes. As I said, if he IS doubling up effectively, I would suspect the cause is elsewhere, not with the range sessions. Using foam plugs correctly, like ChemicalArts suggested, is also a good point. Most people don't get them in far enough to let them expand effectively.

 

[schmeky]

Thanx for the responses. About the electronic hearing protectors, I always thought they were more for providing a moderate degree of protection and simultaneously allowing converstation w/o removing the muffs. According to the noise reduction rating (NRR), most electronics have little advantage over passive hearing protectors.

I may have an audiogram performed this month as a base-line and check into some better NRR rated hearing protectors.

I don't have a real choice in shooting outdoors since I have a spinal cord injury and use a manual wheelchair. I don't want to give up shooting indoors, so I'll look into more options like:

1) An approved suppressor
2) Going to smaller caliber pistols with lighter charges (main caliber is .45 ACP)
3) Shooting less

 

[BCRider]

A suppressor won't help much if the guy next to you is letting off rounds without one. Similarly going to a smaller caliber. And shooting less is NOT an option...

If you go to get a audiogram done talk to them about the situation and your history of shooting along with any history of other high noise level exposure while at work or play. They may be able to offer more information about the whole situation. Also your age and any history of medial prescriptions may have a bearing. I know from talking to one person years ago that there's at least one prescription drug out there that has a side effect of messing up the hearing when taken long term.

PS: I know it sounds silly but if you are concentrating hard enough when shooting that you hold your mouth open then the sound can be conducted through the opening and up the eustachion (sp?) tubes to the backside of your eardrum. Either close it or add a muff to your mouth if you're an open mouth shooter.... I know I ended that with a joke but try it to see what I mean. Take a shot with your mouth open and then closed and then tell me if you don't notice a big difference.

The other day I was the only guy on the line at my local indoor range when I was setting up for some .22 pistol work. Just to see what it was like I took one shot only with no ear muffs. Let me tell you, they went on PRONTO! Granted some of the sound level is due to the booth sides containing it but even outdoors and even with only a .22 I would not want to do much shooting without at least ear plugs.

 

[JImbothefiveth]

You have forgotten the option of going to an air gun range. They are loud, but not once you put on earmuffs.

 

[ArmedBear]

We have an indoor club range here with strict velocity limits for centerfires (850 fps).

Some people don't like that, but I find shooting there to be very pleasant. Also, they sell custom 9mm, .38, .40 and .45 ACP loads to fit their spec's, for $5/box of 50 rounds. I can't complain about that!

If I want to fire up the .44 Magnum with hunting loads, I'll go outside. Getting indoor practice at night during the Winter, without hearing damage (or even just the annoyance of being blasted repeatedly), is really nice.

 

[.38 Special]

Umm, you are the one making a joke/making light out of this, not me.

Sure would be nice if there was a place around here where people could buy a ******* sense of humor. The "I'm important because I take myself seriously" routine has gotten kind of tiresome.

 

[Oro]

Sure would be nice if there was a place around here where people could buy a ******* sense of humor.

.38Special,

Try using smilies, etc. to add some dimension to your comments. No one here is a mind reader and can guess your intent. Don't be offended when bland posts can't be read for sarcasm when intended. I can see how that may have been what you meant. Try finishing those comments with a little smiley so people know what you mean. Watch - it isn't hard -

No this is a serious subject, so it worth being helpful and serious when he's talking about a quality-of-life damaging injury, or even worse.

Context is everything.

 

[WardenWolf]

It's not inevitable with some good ear cans. Of course, it also depends on what people are shooting. If they're shooting mostly semi-auto pistols, it's not going to be a big problem normally. Heavy rifles and magnum revolvers are what gets you normally.

 

[.38 Special]

Oro, the smiley's been there all along.

 

[Meeteetse]

Use Walkers Game Ears or Proears and you won't believe the difference. I have Walker's electronic muffs and they are really something. You hear conversations but they reduce gun noise significantly.