Hearing Protection Question

blbranch

Six Pointer
In the past few years I have had some problems with my hearing. Lost hearing in one ear and was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss. The doctor gave me steroids and my hearing came back. My ears constantly ring for as long as I can remember. With that being said I am 29 years old. It's a scary thing. I have been wearing hearing protection when I hunt but in the past I have not. Obviously that isn't ideal when deer hunting etc. I have some large ear muff style hearing protection that you can hear out of and it cuts noise out at a certain decibal that is harmful to your ears. I don't really like them because it almost over amplifies normal sounds. When the wind blows it is very loud. Can anybody recommend hearing protection you can hear out of and still protects your ears? Not looking for large ear muff's. Something affordable that works good. I have looked at walkers game ears have read mixed reviews about some of their products. Was recently looking at them and noticed they are sold by each? Not sure why somebody would buy one? So if that is true I am looking at $300 for 2 and I am not sure how well they cut out harmful noise Any advice would be welcomed!!
 

Redeye

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
Welcome to my world. I have the constant ringing and hearing loss. I always have ear plugs hanging around my neck when hunting and plug up before taking a shot.

I've found that several things make the ringing worse. Such as not getting enough sleep, riding withe the windows down, etc... Unfortunately, there is no cure for the ringing (tinitis).
 

blbranch

Six Pointer
I'm used to the ringing although sometimes it rings worse than others. I just don't want to damage my ear any further. After loosing what felt like all of my hearing in my left ear for about 2 weeks it was pretty scary. The doctor perscribed me steroids and it somehow came back. I can wear regular ear plugs while duck hunting. But deer hunting, turkey hunting etc I obviously need to hear. Trying to find a good electronic "ear plug" that cuts out harmful noise but still allows me to hear and I don't want large ear muffs.
 

woodmoose

Administrator
Staff member
Contributor
sportear out of Utah and ESP (espamerica.com) are two I am researching

I have hearing aides and severe tinnitus (even the audiologist can hear the ringing in my ear),,,,

lots of things can cause tinnitus - damage to the ear, blood pressure, wisdom teeth, etc etc - keep going till you find the answer

on the sudden loss in one ear that came back -- interesting, did the Doc say what caused it or just cured it?

good luck
 

Crappie man

Six Pointer
I have had severe tinnitus for 22 years and cannot hear out of my left ear. My right ear is maybe 60 % and I also have meniere's disease which complicates things even more.I have not shot any weapon period without hearing protection after the tinnitus started and never will. The Meniere's disease leaves you with poor balance and in darkness you cannot walk in a straight line. My condition mostly forces me to hunt out of a blind (even turkeys) but it sure beats not hunting at all. What Redeye said is the same thing I do. I have ear plugs ready when I need to shoot. I also have had the Walker's ear muffs for years and they do work good for me also. Just not a ideal solution for this problem while hunting.
As far as the tinnitus goes it helps to keep caffeine to a minimum or eliminate it completely is even better.
 

Blackwater

Twelve Pointer
I have about 50-60% hearing in the left and pretty severe high frequency loss in the right ear and have been using a Walker in the right ear for around 18 mos. which has volume and frequency adjustability. It is great to be able to hear birds singing again, but it does amplify too much in a high noise environment. Tire noise on a wet road, wind and some other noises will block out most conversation or at least muddle it to a degree. Shooting a shotgun without protection doesn't bother me so the clipping circuitry does seem to work well. I could get a set of hearing aids from the VA but that expense to the system could better be used for vets who have worse problems than mine so will hold off on that at least for now.
 

Greg

Old Mossy Horns
Have you looked into the Howard Light Impact Sports? My buddy and I both have them. Reasonably priced, adjustable volume, work well for us.
 

Jlewis74

Old Mossy Horns
I have the ringing in my left ear also and have been wearing hearing protection since it happened. I have been researching and it seems the best thing to get is the ones that are custom molded to your ears, like what artist wear when on stage. They make them with the noise canceling built in but still allows you to hear. These are $500-1000 depending on options you get, they have some that act like hearing aids, etc. I plan on getting some in the future.
 

Billy

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
Your best option is probably professionally prescribed hearing aids that are programmed for your specific hearing loss that also cut off above a certain decibel level. That will be expensive unless you have wonderful insurance. Redeye's advice about ear plugs hanging around the neck should help to prevent further damage if you don't want hearing aids.

PS: Places like Sam's Club and Costco have audiologists that can provide decent hearing aids at a reasonable price. You can get a decent set for around $3k, but I chose the best they had at about $4k. That sounds like a lot, but I can hear so much better and they protect my hearing from further damage. I couldn't hear a turkey gobble unless he was extremely close before getting help.
 
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Billy J HCGS

Six Pointer
Your best option is probably professionally prescribed hearing aids that are programmed for your specific hearing loss that also cut off above a certain decibel level. That will be expensive unless you have wonderful insurance. Redeye's advice about ear plugs hanging around the neck should help to prevent further damage if you don't want hearing aids.

PS: Places like Sam's Club and Costco have audiologists that can provide decent hearing aids at a reasonable price. You can get a decent set for around $3k, but I chose the best they had at about $4k. That sounds like a lot, but I can hear so much better and they protect my hearing from further damage. I couldn't hear a turkey gobble unless he was extremely close before getting help.

Go to audiologist, take the hearing test, get a copy of the graph. Some will tell you that they can't give it to you, BUT Federal Law mandates you are entitled to copy of medical records. Search Canto hearing aids. (that's what I have) They tune the Aids using the Graphs. $1500.00 for both sides. Work as well or better than $5000.00 units I tried first from EAR DOCTOR.
 

Smitty010203

Twelve Pointer
Honestly as much as its not what your looking for answer wise.... It sounds like you could really benefit from some hearing protection from a company called "Silencerco". There are many companies like them. I am not trying to be a smart arse either, and i Know that takes time. But I am telling you I can shoot my 7mag without ears all day long and it is absolutely the greatest thing ever.
 

blbranch

Six Pointer
sportear out of Utah and ESP (espamerica.com) are two I am researching

I have hearing aides and severe tinnitus (even the audiologist can hear the ringing in my ear),,,,

lots of things can cause tinnitus - damage to the ear, blood pressure, wisdom teeth, etc etc - keep going till you find the answer

on the sudden loss in one ear that came back -- interesting, did the Doc say what caused it or just cured it?

good luck

I'll look into it...looking like I'm going to have to fork out some $$ to get what I need. But I guess it is worth it to protect my hearing. The doctor couldn't exactly tell me what caused it. Initially I went to urgent care thinking I had some sort of blockage. He told me everything was clear and I needed to go see an ear nose and throat specialist immediately. I went to an ent they did a hearing test I lost significant hearing in my left ear. He told me there are many causes for sudden hearing loss and they couldn't give me an exact reason why it happened. He told me most of the time in these cases he perscribes steroids and it will come back on its own. After about two weeks and a round of steroids my hearing seamed to be normal again.
 

blbranch

Six Pointer
I have had severe tinnitus for 22 years and cannot hear out of my left ear. My right ear is maybe 60 % and I also have meniere's disease which complicates things even more.I have not shot any weapon period without hearing protection after the tinnitus started and never will. The Meniere's disease leaves you with poor balance and in darkness you cannot walk in a straight line. My condition mostly forces me to hunt out of a blind (even turkeys) but it sure beats not hunting at all. What Redeye said is the same thing I do. I have ear plugs ready when I need to shoot. I also have had the Walker's ear muffs for years and they do work good for me also. Just not a ideal solution for this problem while hunting.
As far as the tinnitus goes it helps to keep caffeine to a minimum or eliminate it completely is even better.

Right now my hearing is normal other than ringing in my ears 24-7. I was diagnosed with sudden hearing loss in my left ear. After a hearing test I think I lost something like 30 or 40% . After prescription steroids my hearing gradually came back and right now is normal. Every so often one of my ears will almost pop and start ringing a lot louder than they normally do, almost to the point where I can't hear as good then it will go away. I am more so looking for alternatives to ear plugs, or some kind of digital ear plug that cuts out higher decibal noises that are damaging to hearing. I don't need a hearing aid 24/7 as my hearing right now is fairly normal and the doctor was actually surprised it came back as much as it did.
 

Wildlifer

Old Mossy Horns
Look at decibullz affordable custom molded ear plugs. They are also coming out with an electronic version in April. I used them for most of duck season without any issues. A little more economical and practical than equipping every gun you have with a suppressor.
 

Putt

Old Mossy Horns
The bones in the middle ear remember biology-- hammer, anvil and stirrup.. or stapes, incus and mallus some times will fuse together.. like osteoporosis of the spine. Happened to a very close family member. She had the stapes taken out and a stainless steel piston put in, she regained 98% of her hearing. :) All kinds of things can cause damage to the auditory nerves infections, noise short high frequencies, long low frequencies and even pressure wave or altitude. May not even be the nerves could just be the tympanic membrane or ear drum partial rupture. BEST place go to specialist-- Doctor!!
 

blbranch

Six Pointer
The bones in the middle ear remember biology-- hammer, anvil and stirrup.. or stapes, incus and mallus some times will fuse together.. like osteoporosis of the spine. Happened to a very close family member. She had the stapes taken out and a stainless steel piston put in, she regained 98% of her hearing. :) All kinds of things can cause damage to the auditory nerves infections, noise short high frequencies, long low frequencies and even pressure wave or altitude. May not even be the nerves could just be the tympanic membrane or ear drum partial rupture. BEST place go to specialist-- Doctor!!

I've been to a doctor. To an ent specialist. They can't explain the sudden hearing loss. As of right now my hearing is normal when they tested it last. Other than constant ringing which I've had as long as I can remember. The point of this post is to figure out a good electronic ear plug to wear while hunting.
 

Putt

Old Mossy Horns
So the specialist didn't give you a recommendation? Thing is it doesn't necessarily have to be for hunting, could be for all kinds of recreational things as well as work.
 

hawkman

Eight Pointer
Whoa. This happened to me when I was 15. Sudden hearing loss in one ear and tinnitus for a year or more after that. I experienced some vertigo for awhile afterward, as well. No doc gave me steroids and my hearing did not come back! I'm stunned.

I have not had my ears checked since (30 years later). I should.

When I move the lawn, I go overkill. I wear good foam plugs in the ear and muffs overtop. I love the feeling of popping those out at the end hearing the silence of a well-mowed lawn.
 

hawkman

Eight Pointer
By the way, how many of you wear foam plugs and insert them by pulling your ear out and back? Remember the "barrel-shaped" yellow foam plugs? You were supposed to roll them into a narrow barrel or cone, then with one hand, pull your ear out and back, exposing and opening the ear canal, then the plug slides way in. Much, much better than just cramming it in there. Try it.

The newer, cone shaped plugs still benefit from pulling the ear out.
 

blbranch

Six Pointer
Whoa. This happened to me when I was 15. Sudden hearing loss in one ear and tinnitus for a year or more after that. I experienced some vertigo for awhile afterward, as well. No doc gave me steroids and my hearing did not come back! I'm stunned.

I have not had my ears checked since (30 years later). I should.

When I move the lawn, I go overkill. I wear good foam plugs in the ear and muffs overtop. I love the feeling of popping those out at the end hearing the silence of a well-mowed lawn.

The doctor actually told me he was surprised it came back as much as it did. It actually happened to me over night while I was sleeping, I woke up and could hardly hear out of my left ear. After about 2 weeks or so and steroids from the doc my hearing came back. I've also busted my ear drum twice, can't remember if it was I the same ear both times. Not sure if that has effected my hearing.
 
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