How much hearing loss? Does the audiologist think you’re on the path to deaf? How about you get better hearing protection, not all noise cancelers are made equally.
My audiologist can’t tell me if better hearing protection will help me. Too much of the science of hearing loss depends on the individual. In a single, self-defense use of a firearm without hearing protection, for instance, some will experience immediate, permanent loss and some will not. There is a big difference between a .38 special and a 12-gauge shotgun. I would like to believe that there is a combination of the fitted, silicone plugs with the muffs that will protect me. My audiologist said I could try some things and get tested again in a year. Might be worth a try.
“How much hearing loss?”
The audiologist said I won’t go completely deaf, but the loss could be grievous in the long run nonetheless. There’s a lot hearing left. I might as well try to stop any more loss now that it’s in its early stages. It’s one of those things that creeps up on you. You don’t know anything is wrong until your spouse has to keep yelling at you from the bedroom to turn down the TV. By then it’s largely too late.
I happened to be a Front Site gun training in Pahrump NV. Sport Ear was giving away free hearing tests as part of their sales effort. That was the first I became aware of my hearing loss. After I returned home, a real audiologist confirmed the loss. I think I caught it pretty early, if that helps.
From all the responses, I think I’ll try the fitted, silicone plugs with the absolute best muffs and then get tested in a year. The audiologists said the tests are very accurate and precise. And no more indoor ranges. There is an outdoor range near where I live with no back walls, and the 50-yard portion of the range has no roof. Thanks!