Hi my name is John O'Connor, I am a father, outdoorsman and passionate about living a healthy lifestyle. Over the past few years I have become more and more interested in hearing loss. My father and grandfathers, who are and were all hunters, are affected by hearing loss. I feel that there is a general lack of understanding around the issue and it is our job to spread awareness where we can. Check out my new blog at bloggingwjohno.blogspot.com!
The Importance of Hearing Protection
Hunting season is back and many hobbyists are very excited. Plenty of hunters are out purchasing new guns, ammunition and even new gadgets to help them with their shot, but so many people forget about their hearing.
It can be easy to neglect your sense of hearing. Hearing is such a passive process that it can be very hard to keep its safety at the front of your mind. Because of this, not many people purchasing hearing protection for when they hunt or practice their aim at the shooting range.
Hearing loss doesn't usually happen immediately; it typically develops over time. People who experience hearing loss can purchase hearing aids to help amplify low frequency sounds, but they won't permanently fix their hearing. My father is someone who hunted for many years and failed to pay much attention to his hearing loss. He too now wears a hearing aid that increases and amplifies sounds around him to help him hear well. By taking precautionary steps today, you can protect your hearing and make it last for many years to come.
Hunting season is back and many hobbyists are very excited. Plenty of hunters are out purchasing new guns, ammunition and even new gadgets to help them with their shot, but so many people forget about their hearing.
It can be easy to neglect your sense of hearing. Hearing is such a passive process that it can be very hard to keep its safety at the front of your mind. Because of this, not many people purchasing hearing protection for when they hunt or practice their aim at the shooting range.
Hearing loss doesn't usually happen immediately; it typically develops over time. People who experience hearing loss can purchase hearing aids to help amplify low frequency sounds, but they won't permanently fix their hearing. My father is someone who hunted for many years and failed to pay much attention to his hearing loss. He too now wears a hearing aid that increases and amplifies sounds around him to help him hear well. By taking precautionary steps today, you can protect your hearing and make it last for many years to come.
The Sound of A Firearm
We all know that guns produce loud noises, but no one considers just how loud these sounds actually are. A typical shotgun or rifle produces approximately 166 decibels (DB). If the shotgun has a silencer on it, it produces 144 DB. The average person only speaks at sounds of 44 DB. The sound difference is great. This is why it is very important to wear hearing protection when you are around gunshots. Here are a few things you can do to protect your sense of hearing.
Avoid Indoor Shooting Ranges
We all know that guns produce loud noises, but no one considers just how loud these sounds actually are. A typical shotgun or rifle produces approximately 166 decibels (DB). If the shotgun has a silencer on it, it produces 144 DB. The average person only speaks at sounds of 44 DB. The sound difference is great. This is why it is very important to wear hearing protection when you are around gunshots. Here are a few things you can do to protect your sense of hearing.
Avoid Indoor Shooting Ranges
Practicing your aim is important before hunting season, but avoid indoor shooting ranges. Even with hearing protection, the sound bounces off the walls and amplifies. The frequencies can still bleed through basic earplugs.
Earplugs
Earplugs are the most basic type of protection. They are commonly made out of foam, and they fit comfortably in your ears. However, basic earplugs don't provide quality protection against loud frequencies. They are preferred because they are inexpensive.
Earmuffs
Earmuffs are the next step up in protection. Their clamshell design fits over the entire ear and provides quality protection against loud frequencies. Most earmuffs are lined with foam, but higher quality earmuffs are lined with liquid. The liquid also provides great protection against loud noises.
Electronic Earmuffs
Professional hunters invest in electronic earmuffs. They cancel out loud noises but amplify quiet noises. This allows hunters to be able to hear the quiet whispers of their hunting partner. Electronic earmuffs provide the highest quality in hearing protection, while still allowing the wearer to hear the quiet noises in his surroundings.
You need to take steps to protect your hearing today to ensure an audible future tomorrow. If you spend a lot of your time at a firing range or in the woods hunting, you definitely need to consider purchasing some hearing protection equipment.
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