Medical Journal Says Suppressors are Effective Hearing Protection

AmmoLand ^ | December 14, 2024 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

On November 18, 2024, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery issued a statement of support for the use of firearms suppressors as a means of reducing the risk of hearing loss. From entnet.org:

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery endorses the use of firearm suppressors as an effective method of reducing the risk of hearing loss, especially when used in conjunction with conventional hearing protective measures.

The article contains a paragraph clarifying that the publication and organization are not making a legal or political statement. They are stating a medical fact.

The references listed with the statement make clear suppressors are superior to hearing protection that is worn (such as headsets or earplugs). Using both firearms suppressors and worn hearing protection is even better at reducing risk of hearing loss from the noise of shooting firearms or being near to where they are being shot.

References:

• Chen L, Brueck SE. Noise and Lead Exposures at an Outdoor Firing Range ─ California.Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2011-0069-3140:5:5.
• Branch M,“Comparison of Muzzle Suppression and Ear-Level Hearing Protection in Firearm Use”, Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 144(6): 950-953.
• Heiman D, et al., ibid; Le Prell CG. Sound level suppressors for firearm noise reduction: Implications for hearing conservation. Hearing Review. 2017;24(12):26-30

Reference #1 measures the dangers of firearm blasts for hearing loss.

Reference #2 measures the reduction in sound levels using firearms suppressors compared to hearing protection devices worn on the person. The branch found this result:

Conclusion: Modern muzzle-level suppression is vastly superior to ear-level protection and the only available form of suppression capable of making certain sporting arms safe for hearing. The inadequacy of standard hearing protectors with certain common firearms is not recognized by most hearing professionals or their patients

[marktwain]

One of the biggest government health care blunders was the denial of effective hearing protection by the effective economic ban on silencers/suppressors in the United States.

[existentially_kuffer]

Makes perfect common sense!

[logi_cal869]

I had to slap myself awake to make sure that I was reading this correctly. /s

It is RARE that common sense and proper language are combined into a sane writeup on the topic, let alone in conjunction with a sane paper in a medical journal no less.

Thanks for posting!

[Does so]

As one who has fired a great many homemade silencers (in the lab) ;), I’d add that NONE are consistent in quality.

(Some, for 380, were impressive).

[Does so]

In the first 20 years of lab work, I was firing as many as 20 various firearms every morning. (Four cartridges in each firearm).

Thanks, Barbara, for preparing the weapons. :)

I found that pressing good quality ear protectors between left bicep and left hand reduced the noise considerably.

I was shooting for quantity in stainless steel water tanks not at targets. (But “at targets” worked good too).

Amazing, that with 27+ years of daily shooting (and one front yard shootout with the neighbor’s home-invaders) I never had a firearm injury.

My hearing is pretty good for being over 80 years old—and retired from auto-racing, too!

[LouAvul]

Having lost some hearing from bird hunting, it's an important subject to me. However, I've examined the data and suppressors do not eliminate the need for plugs and/or muffs in many situations/different calibers/configurations of guns.

The consensus is that noise above 85dB is harmful to hearing. A suppressed 45 ACP, for example is right at 141 to 146 dB. That will still damage your hearing. But if you touch it off in a room w/sheetrock ceiling and walls, and ceramic or wood floors, it's going to hurt even more.

I have yet to imagine a scenario where suppressors would help me. My current hearing protection is Sordin behind the head electronic muffs. For hunting.

At the range I use both plugs and muffs.

[logi_cal869]

I may be admittedly ignorant on the topic, but I’ve never seen a paper about suppressor design utilizing software similar to the concept below

https://ductacoustics.com/

With today’s processing power even in a laptop, it seems to me that it would be academic to design an effective suppressor for each type of chambered round, load and barrel absent the trial & error ‘in the lab.’

[UnwashedPeasant]

When a gun is used in self defense, innocent people, including children in their own home, can be assaulted with a lifetime of hearing damage.

Suppressors are necessary safety equipment. Restricting access is an infringement of the right to bear arms.

[vetvetdoug]

I’m going to ask my physician for a prescription for a silencer.

[Labyrinthos]

Suppressors do work well. So do high quality shooting earmuffs used in combination with high quality earplugs.

[bigfootbob]

Interesting idea. Report back what your physician and insurance provider does. Maybe an American Disability Act filing might be in order.

I read a recent interview from the author of this story and the CEO of SilencerCo and the CEO firmly believes that suppressors being an NFA item is short lived. There are millions in circulation and thousands more per month are being sold. We’ll see.

[Glennb51]

I think as long as the feds can get $200.00 for each suppressor, they will continue what they are doing.

[oldtech]

I’m not a shooter. Haven’t fired a gun in many years, but this makes perfect sense to me.