Even rimfire enthusiasts should wear ear protection at the range. A typical rifle shot is loud, ranging from 140 to 170 decibels. (The pain threshold is 130-140 decibels). You can permanently damage your ears without ear protection during a single session of shooting. We all know of older shooters who have Tinnitus or are partially deaf because they did not use earplugs and muffs while they were younger. Amazing video reveals how humans hear soundsThe human hearing system is composed of multiple delicate membranes, organs and nerves. Shooters may understand the importance of protecting hearing, but they might not understand the biomechanics behind human hearing. Auditory Transduction is how we hear sounds. Sound waves vibrate your eardrum (tympanic layer), but this is just the beginning. These vibrations are transmitted via tiny rocker arm-like bones and “processed”, in a spiral chamber called the cochlea. This VIDEO shows how humans hear sound. We recommend that you watch and learn. You could save your own hearing!
Click the Speaker Icon to activate the video’s sound track. The brain receives neural messages from the cochlea after vibrations are separated into different frequencies. This is a complex process that appears miraculous when you look at the bio-engineering involved. In the video above, the process for human Auditory Transduction has been explained and illustrated in 3D animation. This video is amazing. You will be amazed at how much you can hear after watching this video.
Dual-function electronic muffs – great for range communication Electronic earmuffs are designed to protect your hearing and allow you to hear commands from a distance. These Walkie Talkie muffs also offer 2-way communication. Walker Razor Slim Low Profile Earmuffs with Walkie Talkie (NRR 23dB), allows you to communicate using other FRS radios. These are now only $59.99 (40% off) with FREE Shipping. Walker’s NRR23 Razor Slim Electronic muffs are available for $37.00 #ad – 54% off list price if you don’t require the two-way function. Even if you prefer to shoot with earplugs or standard muffs, every shooter should have a pair. The Electronic muffs come in handy when you’re spotting other shooters, or working near the firing lines. They allow you to hear normal conversations while providing essential hearing protection. You can wear ear-plugs underneath muffs to reduce sound. Plugs AND Ear-Muffs – The Benefits of “Doubling Up” Your Hearing Protection
According to OHS Online, “The combined attenuation is not just the sum of the individual performances of each protector.” This is because of an acoustic-vibrational interaction between the ear muffs and ear plugs that makes them behave as a unit rather than as separate hearing protectors. When you combine two hearing protections, ear muffs and ear plugs you can expect a noise reduction increase of between 3-10 dB compared to the better performing hearing protector. OSHA [now recommends] 5 dB [as the typical] benefit offered by combining two hearing protectors.” Source OHSonline.com Ear Diagram courtesy Siemens Medical Solutions
