As a gunsmith, I am tested annually for hearing loss. I’ve experienced years of exposure to barrage after barrage of gunfire, from machine guns to 16-inch guns, while in the military. Today, shooting is part of my job. Nevertheless, I am suffering from hearing loss. Each year, it degrades, but luckily, it is still within normal ranges. For this reason, I place high importance on hearing protection and understanding the different types of protection available.

Types of Hearing Protection

Earmuffs are one of the most popular options.

With earmuffs, hearing protection is worn only while being exposed to gunfire. Once you remove them, you are back in the conversation and can hear what is going on around you.

With foam ear plugs, they are inserted into your ears, and the world seems tuned out.

We have all seen these little foam cylinders. They are rolled into a slimmer cylinder and inserted into the ear cavity. Their effectiveness depends on the material they are made from and how well they are placed.

Most foam earplugs fall into very similar ratings. The soft foam Spark Plugs by Moldex are the ones I use every day. With proper use, these have a rating of 33 NRR (Noise Reduction Rating), as do most formable foam earplugs. However, when I go into the tunnel to test fire, I also put on a pair of earmuffs.

Determining the Proper Amount of Hearing Protection

To determine the amount of hearing protection you need, you must first examine the sounds you are being exposed to. For example, a vacuum sweeper produces 70 decibels (dB), a live concert 140 dB, and an unsuppressed gunshot produces between 140 – 175 decibels (dB). The Occupational Safety and Health Administration suggests hearing loss may occur in 15 minutes at 100 dB.

Using the low end of 140 dB for a gunshot, I take the NRR rating on each hearing protection package. For earplugs, which is 33, subtract 7, then divide by 2. This gives me 13. This is the actual reduction.

Next, subtract 13 from the 140 dB of the gunshot, resulting in 127 dB. This is still much higher than deemed safe. For this reason, I use earmuffs in conjunction with the earplugs.

Unfortunately, the two ratings are not added together. Instead, you get the highest-rated device and add 5 to it. In this case, the earplugs are rated at 33 NRR, while the earmuffs are rated at 26 NRR. Add 5 to the 33 NRR for a total of 38 NRR. Therefore, with the earmuffs and the ear plugs combined, the dB produced is 102. Thankfully, gunshots are not a continuous noise.

More recently, advances have been made in hearing protection that go beyond earmuffs and foam plugs.

Tetra Hearing Devices: Technology and Hearing Conservation and Enhancement

“Tetra Hearing devices are equivalent to a 16-band frequency hearing aid. Where we differ as a hearing technology company is that we not only protect hearing, we can enhance it and help hunters and shooters pick up from years of abuse or even heredity hearing loss,” says Lucas Mashtare, VP Marketing & Communications for Tetra Hearing.

The process starts with a hearing test, either online or by using the results from your local audiologist. Next, Tetra Hearing programs the device for the hearing loss the shooter may be experiencing. Tetra Hearing then programs the sounds similar to a musician’s mixing board and tweaks the device so you hear sounds as you should.

“We can take the spit and drumming of a wild turkey and enhance those frequencies so the hunter can then hear it again,” says Mashtare.

“That is one of the first sounds to go, especially with older ears. These lower frequencies are the first to go. We revive that. We can also program with distance and direction, which is based [on] the placement of the microphone in the device. You process sound differently in a tree stand than when you are on the ground,” continues Mashtare.

Tetra Hearing’s patent-pending Specialized Target Optimization isolates and enhances the exact frequencies hunters need, whether it’s deer, elk, turkey, or waterfowl. Tetra Hearing takes those frequencies and creates custom programs to enhance the sounds you most need or want to hear. For example, duck calls, gobbles, and voices. In addition, it protects you from those sounds that can damage your hearing.

Universal or Custom Fit?

Tetra Hearing offers two devices: a universal option that will fit 95 percent of ears and a custom-fit device. Both require a hearing test so they can tune the device to each individual.

“The device takes the gunshot or any sudden noise down to a safe level at any level over 80 dB, so instead of cutting off the entire sound, you can coach through the entire trigger pull, which is important when coaching new shooters or a young hunter,” says Mashtare.

The device is also equipped with an environmental microphone that picks up clear sound and speech, such as a warning.

My hearing has degraded over the years. However, using Tetra’s technology, I should easily hear turkeys gobbling in the distance or squirrels cutting in a hickory tree.

For more information, please visit TetraHearing.com.