Do you wear your hearing protection correctly?

[muncie21]

I use plugs and muffs when shooting. Although sometimes I have a hard time hearing my shots when shooting steel.

[Bazooka Joe71]

Plugs and muffs here as well...I can barely hear the round being fired.

[flagtag]

I learned the hard way about hearing protection. My (ex) husband, his brother and I were shooting at my brother-in-laws house. After my turn, I stood to the left of the shooter, never giving it a thought. Later that night I realized I couldn't hear the words and all sounds were muffled. It lasted for two days.
Strangely, so I thought at the time, my LEFT ear was worse than the right. I finally realized that the reason was that my right side was open space and on the left was a pick-up truck from which the sounds bounced off.
I learned my lesson!

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by Soundslikejosh

As an audiologist I suppose this is my opportunity to do my duty:

Hi Josh,

I normally wear only muffs, my thinking being that the muff covers not only the ear canal proper but also the surrounding bone to help avoid conduction through those. I also have but don't use a set of electronic ear plugs. I thought them redundant as well as risky- wasn't sure they really shut off the sound in time to avoid damage. I have noticed that my muffs have gotten a bit loose, however, and would welcome any advice you could offer.

Blessings,
B

[Soundslikejosh]

Bill,

The questions you pose are good ones, and depend on the situation in question. For shooting, plugs are better than muffs, but not dramatically so. The concern about bone-conducted sound is worth considering, but the research shows that ear muffs do not cover enough surface area to cause any significant reduction in bone conducted sound. This is not true for military-style helmets that are designed to act as hearing protection devices (HPDs) but they are not common among civilians and unlikely to be used because they are hot and dorky.

Taking a few steps back- plugs are slightly better than muffs, when both are used properly. However, muffs are more likely to be worn incorrectly than plugs, thus widening the gap. In practice, most people will get better attenuation from plugs. However, if someone reads this and is a big fan of muffs, do not interpret this to mean that muffs aren't good. They just aren't AS good as plugs. This is frequency specific, and the preceding statements are general to gunfire, which may or may not carry over to whatever industry a person may work in. In some cases, ear muffs in fact are better, but thats the exception, not the rule. If someone has a question about their work place, I'd need some description of what machinery they are exposed to.

I don't know what the literature says about electronic hearing protection, but I will report back when I know.

In conclusion, regardless if you choose muffs or plugs it is imperative that you use them properly. Expandable foam plugs must be seated deeply in order to expand properly. Small ears may have trouble with common plugs, if possible find small size ones for smaller people. Muffs can be vented by eye protection, and for that reason I do not shoot with muffs on. It is better to select a HPD that you can properly use, than to select one based solely on its NRR.

Hope this helps. Feel free to keep the questions coming.

[Soundslikejosh]

Originally Posted by Bill of Rights

Hi Josh,
I have noticed that my muffs have gotten a bit loose, however, and would welcome any advice you could offer.

Blessings,
B

Forgot to answer that one. It goes without saying that loose is bad. Poor tension lessens the NRR of the muff and is a liability at best. Some muffs are very tight at first, and relax with use. If they are still "tight" they are ok, even though they may not be to the same degree as when new. If they are loose enough to move during use, replace them. $30 now saves a lot later.

[Scutter01]

Originally Posted by Bill of Rights

I also have but don't use a set of electronic ear plugs. I thought them redundant as well as risky- wasn't sure they really shut off the sound in time to avoid damage.

As I understand electronic plugs/muffs, the default state is "block all sound". The "electronic" comes in when it amplifies quieter sounds like talking. So even if the battery is dead, they'll still work like standard plugs/muffs.

In other words, they don't electronically cancel loud noises, they amplify quiet ones.

[rhino]

They do both. The microphone/speakers are default "on," but the circuit is interrupted when a pressure wave (i.e. the loud noise) that meets or exceeds the designed maximum reaches the microphones. Then the circuit is interrupted, and the speakers do not transmit the sudden, loud noise.

As far as bone conduction goes, I don't see how it could really be significant (at least for brief duration sounds). If the pressure wave has enough energy to vibrate your skull strongly enough to damage your hearing, it's going to cause more than a little discomfort while doing so.

And speaking of plugs, I just got my SureFire Sonic Defenders PLUS today. I've been wearing the originals for a while now with excellent results, but sometimes the seal gets broken, especially when I am sweating. The PLUS version has an extra flange on the part that is inserted into the ear canal, so the seal is a lot better. I also got the large size this time (they are sized based on the size of your external ear, not the canal), and they are a lot less prone to twisting (which may have been part of the problem).

NRR is 19 dB, but that is (as far as I can tell) for steady, low intensity sounds. When a suddent high intensity wave hits them, the attenuation is better, and the sound level never gets to where it can damage your hearing. Someday I may cut an old pair open to examine what kind of design they are using, but what matters is that it works.

I also like that I can hear normal sounds better with them, especially with the little plugs not plugged into the holes that lead into the the baffles or whatever they use internally to decelerate the pressure waves. You can shoot okay with them like that, but when I'm shooting something like an AR (or worse), I plug the holes just in case.

You can buy them anywhere that sells SureFire lights (like Gander Mountain) for $10-11 bucks, whether you want the original or PLUS. However, I've only seen the medium size at Gander mountain, so if you want large (or small), order from SureFire Flashlights & Tactical Lights.

Oh! I forgot to say why I wear plugs instead of my electronic muffs most of the time. When I shoot a long gun, my gargantuan cranium causes even the slimmest earmuffs to bump into the stock, which either prevents me from getting a proper cheekweld/head position, or if I force it, it breaks the seal on the muff. Then, in the summer time, muffs are just too hot even when I could use them for pistolas.

[Scout]

Originally Posted by Feign

'swaged'?

Think of two opposing metal slabs the size of a few bricks that are pure hardened steel. One is stationary, the other moves but with a bolt at the top of a downward slope. As the moving one flies down the bolt is essentially pressed with the threads. So I guess they're ground in, but it is really a rolling process, a very fast one at that. Basically. Stupidly loud...

I have a video of it but it's in quicktime format and is propietary info. :|

You Tube

[dblagent]

I had never seen the surefire plugs before, they look interesting and I may get me a set.

Are there any other recommended plugs or better types or brands that I should look for? I normally use disposable type foam plugs but I would assume there are better ones out there.