Ear Protection

Tdub

Tdub

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Let me start by saying my grand-daughter was born 100% deaf. After several operations from when she was just 8months old till she was 4 yrs old, she has regained 85% of her hearing. She is now just 6 yrs old and might possibly be moved to 2nd grade for next year...

Anyway...she has taken to shooting with Papa. I cannot go to the range without her wanting to come along. I started off with her shooting a M&P 15-22 and she has added a Walther P22 to her arsenal.

Wanting to make sure she has the best possible ear protection, I had bought her a good pair of muffs...the only problem was, she had a hard time getting a proper position on the AR. We tried just simple ear plugs and then she would add the muffs when I would shoot my 9 and .45.

I wanted better, so I checked around with every audio place in town and no one offered the molded plugs like her mom used when she raced motorcycles. I found these do-it-yourselfers on line.

We will give them a try this weekend and see how they work. I think they will be fine with the .22 but if we need to she can add the muffs when I am shooting.

Trust me...after many, many hours spent in the dyno room I wish I had been more attentive to ear protection. I am going to do whatever it takes to make sure she has the best protection I can't afford. Will let you know how it goes...

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jsfricks said:
Glad to hear she has come as far as she has. We take things such as hearing for granted, until we start losing it or have lost it.
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That's the truth! Years in aviation, plus a few more in places like IMAX and Disney have taken a toll on my hearing. Even with protection. With background noise, I know someone is talking, but I cannot understand just what they are saying. It come out like the teacher's voice from the Peanuts.
 
Glad her hearing has improved.

I am EXTREMELY careful about my hearing now. I had tinnitus free, full frequency hearing until one .357 shot without hearing protection. Goodbye 9 kHz+ frequency, hello tinnitus.

I now double up at the range - soft crushable plugs and muffs.

Let us know how those work. I might interested.

Good to see Dad's taking care of that hearing. We have learned so much over the last 30 years....
 
A day at the range shooting my friend's .357 left me with tinnitus, also. I don't notice it so much in the daytime, but the ringing at night when all is quiet is very pronounced. I, too, hear the volume of conversation, but I have trouble understanding soft voices. My hearing aids help, but they are not perfect. And forget watching TV programs with music in the background while conversation is going on.
 
I suggest you contact Great Lakes Earmold Laboratory (1-800-842-8184), <www.greatlakesearmold.com> for a referral to an audiologist who can make an impression from which earplugs can be custom-made. Also try Insta-Mold Products (1-800-5234081<[email protected]> for a referral. I've tried the Hocks Noise Brakers <noisebrakers.com> which use a special valve to selectively attenuate noise over a certain threshold. They are great for outdoor shooting because you can hear range commands, etc. normally, but loud noise impulses are blocked. In my experience the Hocks Noise Brakers are not effective at an indoor range, and they will not work if you are also wearing ear muffs. For maximum noise attenuation it is essential that the earplugs extend well into the ear canal; simply blocking the outer ear cavity isn't nearly as effective. I bought Peltor Shotgunner ear muffs for my granddaughter because the cups are about half as thick as conventional ear muffs so there is less interference with the rifle stock. The Noise Reduction Rating is 22, and they come in adult and junior sizes; the junior size's over-the-head portion is much smaller so it will fit a smaller, narrower head. I hope this helps!
 
So glad to see you taking these steps to protect your granddaughter's hearing. I grew up driving a farm tractor every summer and all those hours behind an Allis-Chalmers with a wide spot in the pipe for a muffler took almost 40% of my right ear's ability and 15% of the left before I was twenty. It was good enough for the Army though (seems all you needed was a pulse and a resemblance to a human being to get in the service during Vietnam). There was no hearing protection either during stateside training or in the Green though many of us would stick the filters of cigarettes in our ears in an attempt to prevent damage. Now at 68 I struggle to understand the TV (thank God for the volume button on the remote!) and have gotten pretty good at deciphering my grandkids mumble. But I want to keep what hearing I have so I wear my electronic muffs faithfully at the range; I just wish I had had them back about fifty-years ago!
 
Remington used to market (and may still) a youth set that consisted of shooting glasses and small muffs. My grandkids used them when they were small. If you can't find them locally, send me a PM.
 
It is great that you are looking out for her delicate hearing. Please let us know how these work out. I have got to take care of my grand kids hearing also.

I too have a constant ringing in my right ear, and this is after years of trying to protect my hearing as best as I could.

Bill
 
If you don't have one already, I suggest you get a suppressor. I could care less about tactical cool but do care about my hearing and do care about the gunshots spooking my dogs and horses. I have about another month or two wait for my stamp to come in, as it went pending in February. During that period, I have been stocking up on sub-sonic ammo. Also, during the wait I have threaded the barrel on my bolt action .22 (CZ 455 Varmint) and have also purchased a threaded barrel .22 pistol (Buck Mark). Soon almost all my shooting will be ultra quiet with no need for hearing protection.
 
The suppressors would be a cool thing if the 15-22 was the only thing we were shooting. She also shoots a Walther P22 and I have several 9mm and .45s that I shoot when she is with me.

Thanks for the audiologist suggestions though as I will be following up on them.
 
Kudos for doing the right thing to protect your grand-daughter's hearing.
Considering her history, whatever protection, or combination of protection you eventually decide on, I'd recommend having her hearing tested with and without wearing it (being sure also that she's wearing whatever glasses, hat, etc.) to see exactly how much noise reduction she's getting. The listed NRRs for various devices can be decreased depending on a variety of factors and so may not actually be achieved in practice.
 
The plan is for her to wear the plugs when shooting the .22s and wear the plugs and muffs when she is watching me.
 
OldEagleEars said:
So glad to see you taking these steps to protect your granddaughter's hearing. I grew up driving a farm tractor every summer and all those hours behind an Allis-Chalmers with a wide spot in the pipe for a muffler took almost 40% of my right ear's ability and 15% of the left before I was twenty. It was good enough for the Army though (seems all you needed was a pulse and a resemblance to a human being to get in the service during Vietnam). There was no hearing protection either during stateside training or in the Green though many of us would stick the filters of cigarettes in our ears in an attempt to prevent damage. Now at 68 I struggle to understand the TV (thank God for the volume button on the remote!) and have gotten pretty good at deciphering my grandkids mumble. But I want to keep what hearing I have so I wear my electronic muffs faithfully at the range; I just wish I had had them back about fifty-years ago!
Click to expand...

OldEagleEars:
Do yourself a favor and make an appointment with an audiologist. The hearing aids today are great and almost invisible. The first time you can really hear the grand kids you will forget about the cost. I waited longer then I should have to figure that out.
 
Lots of ear Drs will make a set of molded plugs and they can last up to 4 years or so. I use a set of low profile shot gunning electronic muffs they are not so bulky, but plugs and muffs are a good combo with bigger rounds. Glad to hear she is doing better, keep us posted and let's see some targets.
 
Thanks for all the input guys, I do appreciate it.

Here is a target from her last visit to the range with the 15-22 at 25 yds with a red dot.

923062_10200722432097208_235102141_n.jpg


Her big kick now is popping clays and steels at 50 yds. We will be heading out in the morning so she can try out her new P22 pistol. I will try and get some photos. My first batch of 10 rd. mags came today, so that will make it a lot easier shooting her 15-22 from the bench. I will probably keep the 35 rd PT mags as when we are about to call it a day she likes to blast off some rapid fire LOL
 
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