TexasCHLforum.com

Hey all,

I suffered a catastrophic hearing loss in my right ear several years ago. It worked out as my wife snores so I just sleep on my 'good' ear and all is well.
So all I have is my left ear and it's not hearing as well as it used to. I know that if I ever have to actually (god forbid) use my EDC, i will probably lose the hearing in my left ear from the report(s).

So what I'm looking for is recommendations on a hearing aid / hearing protector that will enable me to hear and protect my one good ear from close proximity to loud noises, especially loud noises like weapons fire. Something comfortable enough and unobtrusive enough to be used every day without drawing attention. Like a hearing-aid with a cap on the amount of sound allowed to pass through.

Please call out if you have any recommendation on where to start looking for such a thing.

Thanks
-jminn1-

Look up Sonic Defender ear plugs Amazon has them

I wear "behind the ear" hearing aids with hard acrylic ear molds. The ear molds do not pass through outside sound. In fact, at the range I just turn off the aids and presto! Top-quality hearing protection. I have hearing loss but I still "feel" every noise. Loud noises are just as painful as they were before my hearing loss. I feel no discomfort using these at the range. For the rest of your question I am not 100% certain of an answer, as I am still researching for myself, but I can tell you that no hearing aid will pass through much sound. They aren't made to do it. Their usable frequency response is generally 200hz to 4000hz if you're lucky. My particular model has an "auto-gain" setting each for soft, medium and loud sounds. This may be what you are looking for in that gunfire would not cause any amplification at all, and the ear molds would protect any natural hearing from it. Without actually having any decent hearing myself, I cannot say for certain that normal hearing would be 100% protected. This setting used in conjunction with the frequency compression that nearly all hearing aids have may be the perfect solution. All of these functions I speak of are also available in a "completely in the ear" model hearing aid, but I am not sure if that plastic casing would have near the protection of an acrylic mold. There may be a hybrid option that would work for you. Find a good "Hearing Instrument Specialist". How you do that, I don't know. word of mouth perhaps. I had to program my own to get them usable for my hearing loss. The technology of hearing aids grows every year. What an Audiologist learned in school is outdated by the time they open a practice and YOU are not asking for help with an everyday hearing loss. You may hit up a few free consultations until you find someone you feel is competent to look at all the options. That's my 2 cents worth. Today's special is No Charge.

I use both custom in ear plugs and over the top muffs for double protection.

If I'm shooting pistols, I wear over the top muffs, (Howard Leight Impact Sport) or if I'm shooting an AR or other rifle, I use Peltor Shotgunner muffs over my in ear plugs.

Yep, a little cumbersome, but works...

Look at whatever you choose for the NRR (noise reduction rating) number. The higher the number, the greater the noise protection.

Check out Surefire. I'd give you a link but I'm using my phone. They have several models with slightly different features. What I use has a little cap you can leave open to allow more sound but suppress louder sounds or close it for max suppression. I use these for riding my motorcycle and wanted something comfortable in a helmet that would not snag putting it on and off. They have worked well so far and not real expensive.

You hearing specialist can have one or two made specifically for you by hearing aid that will clip anything over 90db or what you specify.

There isn't enough respect for damaging noise in society. Those hot air hand dryers make me want to run for cover.

My ears sing to me, 24x7. It is what it is. I just think of it as the sound of my mental turbines at flight idle.

treadlightly wrote:My ears sing to me, 24x7. It is what it is. I just think of it as the sound of my mental turbines at flight idle.

Well played sir, well played.