I am posting this article for a fellow blogger and outdoorsman named John O'Connor who saw my blog, contacted me and asked me to post this. He is passionate about preventing hearing loss, especially while shooting firearms. This has impacted me personally as my hearing has been slightly impaired from shooting firearms without hearing protection. It has also impacted my dad and he now has hearing aides. There is a link at the end of this article to visit John's blog, please do so. Thanks! Here is the article...
Hunters Beware of Hearing Loss
Hunting is a popular
pastime for many people. However, guns are dangerous in more ways than one and
hunters are not always careful enough when it comes to certain aspects of gun
safety. Hearing loss is incredibly common among sport hunters and is caused by
not wearing proper hearing protection when firing a gun.
My father started
hunting before I was born. I can
remember as a child helping him load up all of his gear and pack it into the
car. I was always so amazed with everything
he had; guns, ammo, camo, compasses, callers, but I never remember there being
any hearing protection. Often times my
father did not wear any hearing protection and now in his 70’s he is paying for
it. Affected severely by hearing loss,
my father now wears hearing aids to help him
hear well. He occasionally still likes
to get out to the range but always remembers to have his hearing protection not
only with him but on at all times.
Firearms-Related Hearing
Damage
Audiologists say that
exposure to any noise above 140 decibels (dB) almost inevitably causes hearing
damage. Noises below this threshold can also cause damage if they are repeated
often enough. Most guns are well
above the threshold with the average shotgun blast rating at 160 dB or more.
Hunters themselves are
not the only ones who can damage their hearing during hunting season. People in
the vicinity where guns are being fired can also suffer from hearing loss.
Eventually these people may suffer sufficient hearing loss due to not being
properly protected.
Preventative Measures
Most firearms-related
hearing loss is preventable. There are a number of types of Hearing Protection
Devices (HPDs) on the market including some intended specifically for hunters.
These specialized HPDs filter out loud noises like gunshots to protect your
hearing while allowing softer sounds such as game moving through the trees to go
after.
The simplest type of HPD
is the earplug. These are cheap and readily available. Most of them will do a
good job at preventing hearing loss but hunters may want to choose ones
specially made for hunting if they want to be able to hear softer sounds while
still protecting their ears. Earmuffs are also a popular choice.
Nonlinear HPDs are the
cheaper, non-electronic version and may use a filter or a valve to reduce the
intensity of loud sounds while allowing softer ones through. Those with filters
are preferable because valves may not close quickly enough. Electronic HPDs are
specialized pieces of equipment that increase the intensity of soft sounds and
then shut off when a loud sound like a gunshot is detected.
Wear Your HPDs
Only about half of
hunters wear hearing protection when target shooting. This number goes down
when it comes to actual hunts. Yet, even a single loud shot can cause permanent
and severe hearing damage for not only the hunter but also the people around
him or her. Wearing HPDs anytime you are near a gun that might be fired is the
smart thing to do in order to protect your hearing.
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!
