hearing protection
Quality hearing protection is essential equipment for any shooter. John Hafner
SHARE

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

This is about going deaf, and I’m writing about deafness because in a couple of weeks I’m going to have to take delivery of a new set of hearing aids that are 10 to 15 percent better than what I have. I’d rather spend the money on something else, but when you’re in my position, 10 to 15 percent is a lot because I’ve made it to the Severe level of hearing loss. The levels are: Mild hearing loss: Sometimes you have trouble following what people say, particularly if there’s background noise.

Moderate hearing loss: Without hearing aids, you have trouble following speech, period.

Severe hearing loss: You usually need to lipread or use sign language, even with hearing aids.

Profound hearing loss: Forget the hearing aids—too late for them. It’s signs and lipreading or nothing.

I’m just over the edge into Severe, so the hearing aids still help some of the time.

I got here through a combination of gunfire, heredity, and bad timing. I’ve been shooting regularly for 60 years. I’ve listened to an immense amount of very loud noise. Probably, no matter what I had done or not done earlier, I’d still be deaf to some degree.

When I started shooting I can’t remember anyone using hearing protection. I began in the NRA summer camp rimfire program in 1958, and the report of a .22 rimfire is enough to make you deaf. I listened to lots of them. When I enlisted in the Army in 1963, no one wore hearing protection. A few people stuck cigarette filters in their ears, which was useless, and they were laughed at.

When I was 30, I was already having trouble, and had a hearing test, where I was told that I had Mild hearing loss. By then I was wearing headphones, except when I hunted, and since I did a lot of hunting I listened to a lot of gunfire which did a lot of damage. And, as with all things, the bill has come due.

In the next installment: What you can expect when you’re deaf.