Understanding Shooters Ear – When You Experience Hearing Loss From Gunfire

1. Understanding Shooters Ear – When You Experience Hearing Loss From Gunfire Firearms are used for security, recreation and livelihood. Americans spend more than $16.9 billion each year on target shooting, which now supports over three hundred thousand jobs nationwide. The one thing that you do need to know is that there is such a thing as shooter ear, which is hearing loss which is experienced from gunfire. Owning a gun can be rewarding and give you peace of mind, but of course you need to ensure you practice safe firearm habits, which includes protecting your hearing health. Gunfire is one of the worst things for unprotected ears. Gunfire is an impact noise and is dangerous to your ears. Wherever there is impact noise, there are going to be hearing problems. It's not uncommon for gun owners to find that their ears ring after firing the gun, this is very common and is caused by the gun making a loud sound burst, which causes concussive energy inside the eardrum. Little bones in the inner ear and cochlea, which is a fluid filled snail shaped organ with small hairs, which are responsible for converting sound to the brain, so you can understand what you are hearing. Some shooters experience what is known as temporary threshold shift, which is when the ears feel blocked when you complete your shooting for the day and your hearing isn't as good as when you started. The more you expose your ears, the higher the risk that this temporary change becomes a permanent hearing issue. A single gunshot can cause permanent hearing loss, along with tinnitus, which is ringing in the ears. When the damage is done, there is no reversing it. While the majority of noise induced hearing loss is a result of continuous exposure to loud noises, even a single gunshot can cause permanent hearing damage. Everyone who shoots guns should take care of their ears, making it a habit to wear shooting hearing protection. Hearing damage can occur with noises of 85dB or louder, according to the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders). The higher the caliber of gun, the more noise it produces, but a single gunshot fire from any caliber can cause permanent damage. A good example is a 44 Smith and Western Magnum can register 164.5dB, while a 32 Long, can fire at 152.4dB. Shooters ear is when someone has been involved with firearms. They may be military, member of the armed forces or a private individual who enjoys hunting as a sport. In fact, your audiologist will be able to identify your dominant hand based on which ear has the most hearing loss. Your shooting arm shields your ears from the full force of the blast, which causes more damage in the other ear. The good news is that noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented, which is why it is so important to wear hearing protection devices in noisy environments. While most shooters will wear eye protection, they don't take note of their ears until it is too late. Getting int the habit of wearing earplugs or muffs when shooting will ensure you do what you can to protect your ears, preserving your hearing for years to come.

2. Unfortunately, over time your hearing may still be impacted from repetitive gun fire, but hearing protection can reduce the severity of the hearing loss you may experience later in life, making your hearing loss more treatable with hearing aids. About Us: Electronic Shooters Protection (ESP) is a United States based company that provides clients with state of the art electronic hearing protection that they can rely on when shooting a gun. The company is well-established and has been catering to clients on a national scale since 1994. They offer custom fit ear protection to ensure all day comfort, while still enabling the client to enjoy natural sounds, but protecting them from the repeat exposure of gunfire. Electronic Shooters Protection uses smart technology with a choice of product available. To find out more, visit https://www.espamerica.com.