Concerned about hearing damage after shooting a gun without hearing protection? You should be. A gunshot next to your ear can cause severe harm that negatively affects your hearing for the rest of your life.
The need for hearing protection when firing a weapon of any kind cannot be stressed enough. Firing a gun without ear protection might be a tempting move at the time, but you could regret the consequences the rest of your life. You can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage if you don’t wear the proper protection.
Why A Gunshot Next to Your Exposed Ear Has Consequences
Losing or reducing your ability to hear will seriously compromise your life. Think about what you’ll be losing: having normal conversations with family and friends, hearing music or watching a movie. Is stubbornly shooting guns without ear protection really worth it? A gunshot next to your unprotected ear will expose you to up to 190 decibels (dB), beyond the level at which permanent hearing loss is possible. But regular exposure to gun blasts of 90 dB are still enough to inflict hearing loss. Wondering if even shooting a 9mm pistol without ear protection is ok? Think again. If you are planning on firing a gun of any kind, regardless of caliber, hearing protection should always be worn.Signs of Hearing Damage From Firing a Gun Without Ear Protection
If you went shooting without ear protection and think that you may have caused damage to your hearing, look out for these symptoms:- EAR PAIN – This is probably the most obvious symptom of hearing damage, and even mild ear pain can be a strong indication that something is wrong. This has often been described as something pressing against your inner ear, or like a needle was poked directly into the ear drum. While the effects aren’t always long term, if the noise causing the pain was loud enough then there could be serious damage done.
- TINNITUS – This is a ringing sensation in your hearing that can start out loud and gradually decrease. However, the effect does not always leave completely. It presents as a sharp tone, like a tuning fork held directly against the ear, and can be very distracting. Often this can present sixteen to forty-eight hours later as well.
- LOSS OF HEARING – A decrease in your overall ability to hear is a prime example of ear damage. If you stop being able to hear certain tones, types of voices, or specific sounds then you may have experienced a loss of hearing. This can subside, but can just as easily continue to worsen over time.