Can one shot from a gun cause irreparable harm to your hearing? Recently, on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio, Brent called in during hour three to explain how he damaged his hearing in one shot. This is an all-to-often occurrence that many shooters encounter, and it points out the critical need for all shooters to protect their hearing.
Tom Gresham posed the question earlier in the nationally-syndicated radio show about whether shooters listen to music while shooting their firearms or any other activities. Tom found that music typically causes a distraction when handling a serious task.
Brent dialed in to voice his concern about shooting firearms without hearing protection. A single shot from a 454 Casull was his hearing’s undoing. Now, Brent is left with a lifetime of buzzing in his ears.
Hearing damage happens quickly and isn’t something we gain back with time. Shooting guns without hearing protection can pose several significant risks to auditory health due to the high decibel levels of gunshots. A gunshot typically emits a sound exceeding 140 decibels, which is far above the 85-decibel level at which prolonged exposure can lead to hearing damage. Even a single exposure to such loud noise can cause immediate and irreversible damage to the inner ear, leading to permanent hearing loss.
Brent has constant crickets in his ears, which is common when shooting without hearing protection. This is known as Tinnitus. This condition is characterized by a ringing, buzzing, or hissing sound in the ears, which can occur after exposure to loud noises like gunshots. Tinnitus can be temporary or chronic, and in some cases, it can be severely debilitating. And, in Brent’s case a problem not only to him but those around him as well.
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Other common problems with shooting firearms without hearing protection include:
- Acoustic Trauma: This term refers to injury to the inner ear structures due to sudden, extremely loud noises. Acoustic trauma can result in both temporary and permanent hearing loss, depending on the intensity and duration of the exposure.
- Hyperacusis: This is an increased sensitivity to everyday sounds that are not typically perceived as loud. Exposure to loud noises such as gunshots can sometimes lead to this condition, making normal environments uncomfortably or painfully loud.
- Psychological Effects: Apart from physical hearing damage, exposure to loud gunshots without protection can also lead to anxiety, stress, and a fear of loud noises. This could potentially lead to avoidance behaviors or phobias related to loud environments.
- Gradual Hearing Degradation: Repeated exposure to loud gunshots without adequate protection can lead to a gradual decline in hearing ability over time. This might not be immediately noticeable but can result in significant hearing impairment in the long term.
To mitigate these risks, it is highly recommended to use hearing protection such as earmuffs or earplugs specifically designed for shooting. These protective devices reduce the intensity of the sound reaching the eardrum and help preserve hearing health. Beware this holiday season while out enjoying a family range day. Protect those around you and yourself by wearing hearing protection for each shot.
As always, call 866-TALK-GUN with your comments, questions, and range reports.
Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk is proudly supported by 4 Patriots, Colt, Hodgdon Powder, HSM Ammunition, Mossberg, POF USA, Range Ready Studios, Ruger, Sig Sauer, Silencer Central, Stag Arms and Timney Triggers.
In its 28th year of national syndication, Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk® radio show airs live on Sundays from 2PM-5PM Eastern, and runs on more than 270 stations every week.
This is why suppressors should be mandatory in the field and the range where the extra length is not a Hindrance
I wish I’d read this in the 1950s, when I fell in love with 1911s and 1913s.
I suppress my .300 Blackout, .556 and my .22LR Tippman Micro Elite. I run 220 grain subsonic loads thru the .300 and it is pretty quiet, no sonic crack, but I still use muffs. I also run CCI Quiet loads thru the .22 LR. That one is quiet enough I don’t ever wear protection. The Micro Elite has become my favorite suburban varmint gun. I can dispatch a Raccoon in my backyard without bothering any of the Karen’s or Ken’s living close by, not that there are any, but just in case… I suppress the .556 with a YHM Fat… Read more »
Frequencies emitted by different sounds are what causes hearing loss, generally the higher the amplitude ( decibels ) the faster the loss. However, some sounds, however mild, can be as destructive over time as gunshots. Most hearing loss occurs over such a period of time that many have suffered a great deal before they realize it. I started having tinnitus after a single gunshot many years ago when not wearing hearing protection, Many other sounds ( too many to mention ) have since damaged my hearing since then
“However, some sounds, however mild, can be as destructive over time as gunshots.”
Like having your head stuffed up in the space between floor joists and the knucklehead next to you starts pounding nails into the side of the joist right next to your ear. (AMHIK)
Guy I know suffers, as does everyone around him due to his impediment, from serious tinnitus and hearing loss, yet refuses to wear ear-pro while shooting his pistol.
A suppressor can reduce muzzle blast but can do nothing about the “sonic boom” generated by a supersonic bullet or the sound of a weapon’s action cycling. That’s why weapons intended to be quiet typically use subsonic loads and fire from a locked breach.