Hearing Protection

[Appliancedude]

What is the best all around hearing protection?

Here is my problem. My daughter who is 5 turning 6 in August has hearing problems. She was born deaf in her right ear and has a 30% loss in her left ear. The audiologists say we should keep her away from very loud sounds so as not to cause more hearing loss. Of course I have guns and she's asked about them, and I don't want to tell her no if shes wants to go shoot with dad. But at the same time I don't want to cause her even more hearing loss. So my options are to suppress anything she shoots. Which since I live on the Left coast, I don't think that's legal. Or pay out the nose for the absolute best hearing protection I can by.

Now shooting with dad aint happening anytime soon because due to her hearing loss she is immature for her age and has some comprehension issues. I'm just thinking about the future.
Dan

[Slabsides]

Some quality, properly installed foam ear plugs along with some quality, properly fitted muffs will tone down just about any common caliber to harmless levels.

Key words here are Quality and Properly fitted.

[rcairflr]

Originally Posted by Slabsides

Some quality, properly installed foam ear plugs along with some quality, properly fitted muffs will tone down just about any common caliber to harmless levels.

Key words here are Quality and Properly fitted.

+1 on this recommendation. Double up with good earplugs and good ear muffs.

[ryan42]

I would wait till shes about 10 to 12 before I introduced her to firearms and then with her hearing problem I would test the plugs and muffs you buy yourself and make sure the shots are no more louder that a regular voice.There are some quality earing products out there.Funny thing is I was at arbor freight and bought some $2.99 muffs and they work great It knocked down the noise 80% suprised the heck out of me.

[norahc]

Best hearing protection in the world...distance. The farther away you are, the quieter it is. (sorry, couldn't resist)

But slabsides nailed it with his comments.

[76Highboy]

Hu? What did you say? Oh, did you say gearing protection? Just a good 90 weight oil in the diff's,,,, Oh, sorry, you said hearing protection. My bad. Go with slabsides on this one.

[Jerryboy]

don't rely on muff style hearing protection if she wears eyeglasses. I have some great quality muff HP, but it looses about 30-50% of it's efficiency because of the arms of my glasses which aren't thick at all.

[Appliancedude]

Ryan it'll be a few years. My dad started me about 7 8 ish. I'm just trying to think ahead. Last thing in the world I want to do is cause more hearing loss to my princess. Even if that means no access to firearms.

That being said Jerry has a good point. She does wear glasses as well. Its to correct her lazy eye, her vision is fine.

And ear plugs and muffs was what my dad always had me wear too.

[Zane71464]

Slabsides nailed it.

[Trevor1837]

Originally Posted by 76Highboy

Hu? What did you say? Oh, did you say gearing protection? Just a good 90 weight oil in the diff's,,,, Oh, sorry, you said hearing protection. My bad. Go with slabsides on this one.

[jbrescue]

YOu may end up having to get the hearing aid style molded for her ears. They offer the best seal in each person's ear cavity. Then put muffs over those. I think there are even some DIY kits out there for this style hearing protection.

[Appliancedude]

Molds are a good idea too. Didn't think of those. Since she already wears hearing aids, she'll be used to them too

[76Highboy]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

What is the best all around hearing protection?

Here is my problem. My daughter who is 5 turning 6 in August has hearing problems. She was born deaf in her right ear and has a 30% loss in her left ear. The audiologists say we should keep her away from very loud sounds so as not to cause more hearing loss. Of course I have guns and she's asked about them, and I don't want to tell her no if shes wants to go shoot with dad. But at the same time I don't want to cause her even more hearing loss. So my options are to suppress anything she shoots. Which since I live on the Left coast, I don't think that's legal. Or pay out the nose for the absolute best hearing protection I can by.

Now shooting with dad aint happening anytime soon because due to her hearing loss she is immature for her age and has some comprehension issues. I'm just thinking about the future.
Dan

Dan,

When I was born I was partially deaf in my right ear. My father took us children shooting without hearing protection until our teen years. Today I have minimal hearing and constant ringing in my ears.

My advice is doubling her up with ear plugs and ear muffs. You can cut the foam plugs down to fit, that is what I did with my daughter and she has excellent hearing today. I think that even with the glasses she will be fine because my daughter and I always wear shooting glasses and we have no problem. However, I would keep her away from the magna-ported firearms. That is a little too much for her from my experience.

Hope that helps. Slabsides said it well.
Jim

[Double D]

In my opinion, you need to get them started with firearms as soon as you possibly can and teach them the rules of safety and also the enjoyment of shooting. You can purchace head sets that are electronically controlled to cancel out the loud stuff and still be able to hear conversations. Under her circumstances, you will need to be extra careful but dont let it stop you from enjoying this time teaching your daughter the importance of safety and self protection.

[Appliancedude]

Originally Posted by Double D

In my opinion, you need to get them started with firearms as soon as you possibly can and teach them the rules of safety and also the enjoyment of shooting. You can purchace head sets that are electronically controlled to cancel out the loud stuff and still be able to hear conversations. Under her circumstances, you will need to be extra careful but dont let it stop you from enjoying this time teaching your daughter the importance of safety and self protection.

Exactly. My belief is you can't teach gun safety without shooting a gun so they can see the damage they can do. You can talk all you want but until they see they wont get it. Its all inclusive. When she turns 6 we will start with a bb gun. And go up from there. Like I said, she is quite immature and doesn't always comprehend. Shes's 5 but maturity wise I'd put her at 4. She gets more mature all the time. And alot of it could be my wife and I's fault. We really babied her too much. She was our 1st and then with the hearing we really had a hard time letting her grow up. We've really cut the purse strings within the last year. And she's really catching up.
Thanks again for the ideas. Right now I'm thinking molded plugs with the noise canceling headphones.
Dan

[jbrescue]

Since you are looking for the best protection, I wonder if there are some industrial hearing protection muffs that may have a higher NPP rating than that normal ones that you would find for sporting use. It would seem to me that some industrial settings would need that.

[Frogtop]

Originally Posted by Jerryboy

don't rely on muff style hearing protection if she wears eyeglasses. I have some great quality muff HP, but it looses about 30-50% of it's efficiency because of the arms of my glasses which aren't thick at all.

The muffs with the gel filled collars do better with eyeglasses that the sponge but, like stated previously, I would go with both in her case and make sure she is wearing them each and every time. I appreciate your concern and wish the two of you success. Being a dad to a daughter is tough (experience talking here) and you two have a few more opportunities for bonding than most.

[mjp28]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Ryan it'll be a few years. My dad started me about 7 8 ish. I'm just trying to think ahead. Last thing in the world I want to do is cause more hearing loss to my princess. Even if that means no access to firearms.

That being said Jerry has a good point. She does wear glasses as well. Its to correct her lazy eye, her vision is fine.

And ear plugs and muffs was what my dad always had me wear too.

I'd be real, real careful on all of this. I started in a steel mill when I was 18 in 1969, we had NO hearing protection back then at all, now I'm paying for that and more.

Hearing loss and Tinnitus, a high pitched ringing in the ears, (although it runs somewhat in my mother's side of the family).....but LOUD noises, steam hissing, all that have done their toll on my hearing.

IF you do shoot start with the least noisy caliber, which is a good idea for any child anyway.

[Frogtop]

Originally Posted by mjp28

I'd be real, real careful on all of this. I started in a steel mill when I was 18 in 1969, we had NO hearing protection back then at all, now I'm paying for that and more.

Hearing loss and Tinnitus, a high pitched ringing in the ears, (although it runs somewhat in my mother's side of the family).....but LOUD noises, steam hissing, all that have done their toll on my hearing.

IF you do shoot start with the least noisy caliber, which is a good idea for any child anyway.

So this discussion pricked my curiosity and I called a couple of friends who are industrial hazard and safety consultants. They gave me the formula for calculating the total NPP of muffs and plugs. The bottom line is the accumulated total isn't really that much more than any one alone but (big but) with firearms we are dealing with both the decibel level of the noise plus the acoustic shock from the discharge and this is where the combo is beneficial. Recommendation is for all of us to use both with firearms. And as mjp said above, some calibers seem to be worse. A hot 357mag is particularly uncomfortable to me whereas a shotgun doesn't hurt that much. I still use the hearing protection any time I am on a range or plinking.

[time2shoot]

Plugs and muffs both.

[Appliancedude]

Man I'm not even thinking of the higher calibers yet. I'm worried about the report of a 22. When she turns 6 which will be in Aug. I'm planning on teaching her to shoot a BB gun. If she's into it and Obama isn't reelected and peed on the 2nd amendment I"m thinking I will by her one of those cricket 22's when she turns 7. Seriously I'm thinking 2 years ahead right now. Thank you all for the responses. definitely will have both plugs and muffs.

[time2shoot]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Man I'm not even thinking of the higher calibers yet. I'm worried about the report of a 22. When she turns 6 which will be in Aug. I'm planning on teaching her to shoot a BB gun. If she's into it and Obama isn't reelected and peed on the 2nd amendment I"m thinking I will by her one of those cricket 22's when she turns 7. Seriously I'm thinking 2 years ahead right now. Thank you all for the responses. definitely will have both plugs and muffs.

I have two of the crickets my girls love them.
she might have trouble cocking it. it's a strong spring.
My nine year old's fingers get tiered after about 30 rounds then she switches to her 1911

[Dirtypacman]

I had mine professionally done by a company in Pelham, NH
Here is the link but there may be local vendors that you can use in your area.
http://www.hearsafe-usa.com/

I highly recommend getting a set done you will be very happy. I don't think the "kits" work good or the same I say you must meet with a professional to have them do it.

[ryan42]

Originally Posted by Appliancedude

Ryan it'll be a few years. My dad started me about 7 8 ish. I'm just trying to think ahead. Last thing in the world I want to do is cause more hearing loss to my princess. Even if that means no access to firearms.

That being said Jerry has a good point. She does wear glasses as well. Its to correct her lazy eye, her vision is fine.

And ear plugs and muffs was what my dad always had me wear too.

I hear ya appliancedude I could tell by your post she is dear to your heart and I know you wouldnt want to cause her any harm please dont take my post any other way,thats the only thing I hate about typing you cant always get the right emotion,context when your just reading type.Im sure she will enjoy it.

[BETH]

i would only shoot .22's around her i don't think there is anything quieter?