{"id":2731,"date":"2022-01-28T14:17:35","date_gmt":"2022-01-28T19:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/?p=2731"},"modified":"2022-01-28T14:17:37","modified_gmt":"2022-01-28T19:17:37","slug":"hunting-hearing-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/augustaent.com\/hunting-hearing-loss\/","title":{"rendered":"Hunting & Hearing Loss"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Any sound over 85 decibels (dB) can cause permanent damage to your hearing system with enough exposure. For reference, that is about the volume of passing highway traffic or a busy caf\u00e9. A single gunshot can clock in at 140 to 190 dB \u2013 loud enough to cause immediate damage. This is why hunters should take precautions to protect their hearing<\/a> when out scouting or hunting in Spirit Creek Forest<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What the Research Shows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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One study<\/a> conducted by the University of Wisconsin found that men aged 48 to 92 who regularly hunted were more likely to experience high-frequency hearing loss. Researchers found that the risk increased by 7% for every five years the men had been hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even more alarming, of the 3,753 study participants, 38% of target shooters and 95% of hunters reported never wearing hearing protection in the previous year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Hunt without Harming Your Hearing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Follow our tips below to protect your hearing while hunting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invest in Hunter\u2019s Earplugs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any earplugs or earmuffs are going to provide some level of protection against the shot of a firearm, so it\u2019s important to wear them. However, hunter\u2019s earplugs are specially designed to protect your ears from the volume output of a gunshot and are the best option when it comes to protecting your hearing while hunting. Not only do they block dangerously loud sounds, but they let safe sounds through clearly, so your senses can stay sharp and you can communicate with your hunting buddy with ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Them In<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter what type of hearing protection<\/a> you\u2019re wearing, it\u2019s important to wear it at all times, not just when you\u2019re getting ready to shoot. This is because there are other hunters around you, and you don\u2019t know when someone near you is going to fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use a Silencer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Check the laws where you\u2019re going hunting to see if using a silencer is legal. If so, consider using one in order to provide you and your partner\u2019s ears some relief. Silencers work by stabilizing the loud propellant gases that firearms produce when fired. You should still wear hearing protection even if you\u2019re using a silencer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For more information about hearing protection or to schedule an appointment<\/a> with a hearing expert, call Augusta – Aiken ENT & Allergy<\/span> today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n