[Rossi]

Any such thing as completely invisible ear protection?

A guy at the range today was talking to me about targets. He had no head muffs on, and when I looked, I couldn't see any ear plugs either. Didn't mention anything about it to him. I thought maybe there were some new invisible ear plugs on the market.

But you know how people who have earplugs in or muffs on naturally speak in loud, clear tones to each other? He wasn't doing that - just talking in kind of normal tones, and he could hear me when his back was to me, as well. Made me wonder. If he wasn't wearing anything, it would be the second time I've seen that in two weeks at two different ranges.

You'd think that the excruciating pain would make him borrow some muffs from the range. They have loaners for FREE.

 

[darbo]

Interesting. Maybe he has some kind of tiny electronic units. If not he's a dumba$$!

 

[GunsandNoses]

They do make in ear protection that is flesh colored and looks like a hearing aid.

 

[taurusgunner]

Any such thing as completely invisible ear protection?

A guy at the range today was talking to me about targets. He had no head muffs on, and when I looked, I couldn't see any ear plugs either. Didn't mention anything about it to him. I thought maybe there were some new invisible ear plugs on the market.

But you know how people who have earplugs in or muffs on naturally speak in loud, clear tones to each other? He wasn't doing that - just talking in kind of normal tones, and he could hear me when his back was to me, as well. Made me wonder. If he wasn't wearing anything, it would be the second time I've seen that in two weeks at two different ranges.

You'd think that the excruciating pain would make him borrow some muffs from the range. They have loaners for FREE.

Answer,he was deaf, probably a lipreader?

 

[jeepin]

Guy at my range who is virtually deaf from a concussion injury. He just takes his hearing aids out. Although he can't hear a thing without them. It's pretty obvious

Back in the army when I was running medic duty, a guy came up to my truck asking if i could help him with the ringing in his ears and pounding headache had had after a day on the range. He couldn't find any ear plugs so he tried rolled up cigarette butts...... Which didn't work

Sent from my Desire HD

 

[rwingjr]

I shot for years without ear protection and never thought anything about it. I also work around auto racing and that's very loud. Occasionally, I'll put ear plugs in for those. I'm trying to remember to put them in now. I'm not saying my hearing is great but it's not real bad. Last time I went shooting, I was preparing to shoot and the guy with me asked if I was going to use hearing protection. I'm like: Oh yeah, thanks.

 

[tazelmo]

W h a t d i d y o u s a y ???

 

[Rossi]

Guy at my range who is virtually deaf from a concussion injury. He just takes his hearing aids out. Although he can't hear a thing without them. It's pretty obvious

Back in the army when I was running medic duty, a guy came up to my truck asking if i could help him with the ringing in his ears and pounding headache had had after a day on the range. He couldn't find any ear plugs so he tried rolled up cigarette butts...... Which didn't work

Sent from my Desire HD

Oh, man...

 

[Rossi]

I shot for years without ear protection and never thought anything about it. I also work around auto racing and that's very loud. Occasionally, I'll put ear plugs in for those. I'm trying to remember to put them in now. I'm not saying my hearing is great but it's not real bad. Last time I went shooting, I was preparing to shoot and the guy with me asked if I was going to use hearing protection. I'm like: Oh yeah, thanks.

In my younger casual target shooting days, we just shot into a cliff at a quarry. Don't ever remember using ear protection, but it was outdoors. It was very loud, depending on the gun, but manageable. I think some of these guys have little or no experience with indoor ranges, which are a completely different thing. You're multiplying the noise by a factor of two or three.

I remember going to the drag races a couple of times and the dirt track stock car races a few times. That can be pretty intense, too, depending on the cars.

 

[JoshNix9]

I agree that there is a massive difference with indoor and outdoor ranges. I will sometimes use foam plugs and earmuffs indoors and just one or the other outside. I am only 35 and spent too many hours in the car with 2000+ watts in my car's stereo (not in town I had long highway commutes). My hearing is still good but not as good as it used to be and I am overly careful now.

 

[piratesailor]

Guy at my range who is virtually deaf from a concussion injury. He just takes his hearing aids out. Although he can't hear a thing without them. It's pretty obvious

Back in the army when I was running medic duty, a guy came up to my truck asking if i could help him with the ringing in his ears and pounding headache had had after a day on the range. He couldn't find any ear plugs so he tried rolled up cigarette butts...... Which didn't work

Sent from my Desire HD

It's easy for me.. I take off the external processors for both my cochlear implant. Not a sound even if you shot a .45 near me. Since I read lips pretty good I can sometime carry a short conversation. The RSO's where I shoot know this but I wear muffs and keep the processors on anyway so I don't freak others out.

 

[Fishinkeylargo]

I always see a booth at the gun shows where they are making people custom fit ear plugs with a choice of different colors. The flesh color ones are hard to notice.

 

[Three Percent]

I shot for years without ear protection and never thought anything about it. I also work around auto racing and that's very loud. Occasionally, I'll put ear plugs in for those. I'm trying to remember to put them in now. I'm not saying my hearing is great but it's not real bad. Last time I went shooting, I was preparing to shoot and the guy with me asked if I was going to use hearing protection. I'm like: Oh yeah, thanks.

You might want to check out the thread on Tinnitus and hearing loss.

 

[rwingjr]

I don't condone not using them. It just wasn't something that was well known when I started shooting. I try to use them but I often forget. It's just not part of my routine. I worked with loud tractors for years and I used them always. It was just part of my routine when I started the equipment. Sort of like putting seat belts on. I've always shot outdoors, except for when I was in school. We actually had an indoor shooting range and rifle club in the school. Imagine the horror of that today. Ear protection wasn't even considered back then. I have had tinnitus for years but it's attributed to medication I take. I don't even notice it until it's mentioned. BTW, eye protection was not considered either back then. I never used any. It's not an issue now because old age has required me to wear glasses.

 

[Czechbikr]

My Dad was infantry in the Pacific during WW II and stayed in the USAR for 20 years afterward. His nerve deafness was a progressive syndrome and he was very deaf by the time he passed away.

Once gone, it doesn't return.