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.
If you have fired a weapon without proper hearing protection and you find yourself suffering from any or all of these symptoms then you need to consult a doctor immediately. You should seek treatment before the symptoms begin to subside as well.
Don’t Be Like These 50 Million People
Over 50 million people are at risk of noise-induced hearing loss from shooting guns without hearing protection – the most preventable form of disability there is. Are you among that 50 million at risk?
The damaging effects of a gunshot next to your uncovered ear could limit your enjoyment of life in so many ways. Taking the simple step of wearing good hearing protection is the wise move to avoid suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms.
Lucky for you, the most advanced hearing protection devices allow you to hear the sounds you want – like human speech, the launch of a clays trap or rustle of a whitetail in the brush, while muffling harmfully loud gun blasts. ESP’s hearing devices do just that, and more as you’ll see in this video.
Advanced Hearing Devices Offer the Best of Both Worlds
Our hearing devices are also custom-molded just for your ears, offering all-day comfort and a snug fit, so you hardly notice that you’re even wearing ear protection. Made in America with P2I material, they are also waterproof and durable in rugged conditions.
We’ve been in the business for over 25 years, and are well-regarded in the hunting, shooting sport and law enforcement communities for our high-quality products and the outstanding customer service of our office staff in Brighton, Colorado.
We provide ongoing support and discounted repair rates for years to our customers. Each purchase of ESP products is covered by a 1-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee.
Please explore our line of four hearing protection devices, which span a range of features, capabilities and prices:
https://www.espamerica.com/shop/
Feel free to reach us with any questions you may have:
Lilia Robberts
My husband want to get a gun for his birthday. I know guns can be dangerous when someone is not properly trained .Thank you for letting me know that he should be using plugs to keep his ears safe. “Additionally, if you are an avid shooter, remember to never leave your home to go shooting without protection for your ears. Having protection will allow you to avoid suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms.” Along with him protecting his ears. I’ll need to look more where he can take a pistol class. Safety comes before fun.