How loud noise levels cause hearing loss — Wear protection

Protect Your Hearing — Wear Hearing Protection Every Time You ShootNoise-induced Hearing Loss and Tinnitus are among the most common ailments for recreational shooters. The sound of gunfire can be loud, but few people realize the impact it can have on your hearing until it is too late. Better quality suppressors reduce the noise by 20 to 35 decibels. Good muffs and plugs can reduce sound by up to 33 decibels. Suppressors protect the hearing of recreational and hunting shooters by reducing the overall sound signature. Even the most efficient suppressors on the smallest, quietest calibers (.22 LR), reduce the peak sound of a shot to between 110 and 120 dB. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, that’s as loud as a jackhammer or ambulance siren (120 dB). For handguns and rifles of normal caliber, suppressed sounds levels regularly exceed 130 dB. This is just a little bit shy of OSHA’s “hearing-safe” threshold of 140dB. Dr. William W. Clark is the current Director of Washington Univ. School of Medicine’s Audiology/Communication Sciences Program, a “serious threat to hearing comes from recreational hunting or target shooting”. This is due in part to the fact many people do not use traditional hearing protection like earplugs or earmuffs, because they want to hear their surroundings. Multiple studies have shown that 70 to 80% hunters do not wear earplugs and earmuffs. Nearly half of target shooters also don’t wear hearing protection. This article is based on data from the American Suppressor Association. Since the ASA was formed in 2011, 18 states have legalized hunting with suppressors and three more states have legalized owning a suppressor. For more information, visit www.AmericanSuppressorAssociation.com.Similar Posts:Tags: Bone Conduction, decibel, Earmuffs, Earplugs, Muffs, Noise Levels, NRR, Silencer, Sound Moderator, Suppressor