Hearing aides and shotguns

[HoofsandWings]

As I am getting older, my hearing is not what it used to be.
Do you wear hearing aides while hunting? Do they cut out when you shoot?

[baldopepper]

Funny you'd post that today as I just picked up my new hearing aids last night (used Costco as they came recommended by several people and service thus far has been really good).  My doctor diagnosed me with severe high frequency hearing loss 3-4 years ago.  Said it probably had a lot to do with the thousands of shotguns shells I fired off in my younger years before taking care of your hearing was a big issue.  I couldn't hear any high pitched noises, couldn't hear people talking if there was any background noise at all, and couldn't detect which direction sounds came from among other things.  I haven't tried shooting with them yet, but my initial thoughts are that I'll probably remove them when I do as any kind of loud noise right now is quite startling. Costco has a 90 day return policy (most have only 30 and have a restock charge which Costco doesn't) so I'm going to give them a good try and then decide.  If you've done a lot of shooting you probably have the same problem, my doctor tells me it is very common.  I'm going to experiment a bit because I really do want to wear them hunting (especially for turkeys) but not sure about the shooting aspect yet-obviously I couldn't just reach up and pull them out at the last second before a shot.  Ask again in a couple of months and I'll give you a better answer.

[JJD]

I have the behind the ear type which allows me to use a stethescope at work.  Most of them (all to my knowlege) shut down amplification at a ceratin decible level, however, doesn't do ya much good if sound passes by the ear piece.  The ones that actually fit into the ear work better as hearing protection.  Another recomendation is to get a type that are water resistant.  Mine are not and if I sweat even a small amount, the moisture kills the batterys.  Very frustrating when you are working getting set up and you sweat a bit and it kills the batterys.
A friend of mine hunts with amplified head phone and gets along well with them.  Seems it would get in the way fo mounting the shotgun at times, but he seems not to have any problems.

[MC37493]

This made me realize i should probably start wearing ear plugs or game ears while hunting!

[Brad Harshman]

I purchased some inexpensive noise cancelling ear plugs last year.  They seemed to work but they were so uncomfortable I quit wearing them.  Gotta find something I can actually wear.

[Jim Sr.]

I have had hearing problems since 1995 (meniers disease) it happened suddenly with mind numbing tinnitus, low frequency hearing loss and it has forever has changed my life. It is a pain in the ass to get by every day but I will not let it beat me, I'm as stubborn as a mule!!! 
I have hunted since childhood and it was a no brainer to try and learn how to deal with it.
I have 1 BTE (behind the ear) digital HA on my right side & the left ear does not need one due to 90% hearing lose. The HA has 4 settings with a remote control (my how technology has advanced) and #4 shuts off all sounds at 85db (like the electronic ear muffs, which I use occasionally while hunting and at the range with the HA) so it works well and just use a foam plug in the bad ear, which is funny because I can't comprehend speech but loud noises hurt it badly and could start a dizzy spell (equilibrium).
There are the low profile hearing protection (Tactical 6) that I use when it's dry but moisture can be a problem with them.
With the many scenarios of how gun blasts (or loud sudden noises) can affect me I have to be vigilant all the times to protect what I have left.

Good luck to all and think of hearing protection this way, when your older; do you want to be able to hear your wife, kids or grandkids tell you "I love you" and be able to hear it?

[baldopepper]

Tried out these new Costco hearing aids last weekend while shooting some quail.  Seemed to work fine and I really didn't notice any excess noise from the shots.  They come with a remote that allows you to change to any one of 3 settings and the one I chose seemed to work fine.  I could sure hear things a lot better when I was out and about (actually kind of annoying at times).  I heard hen turkeys yelping around the cabin and my friend told me I was correct when I said what direction they were-that's a first in a long time.  So far I really like them.

[Jim Sr.]

Yep, some technology is great, some not so great.
Just always remember to make sure (when shooting) that they are on the NC channel (noise canceling).

[Heredoggydoggy]

I've lost the hearing out of my left ear, and the one thing that irritates me is not being able to tell where sound is coming from.

Be careful with the noise-cancelling headphones, because they will clip off a squib load just as fast as a loud shot, and you run the risk of blowing up your gun, or worse.  I like them, but I rarely use them for that reason alone...

[Jim Sr.]

Squibs are also detected by the recoil, or lack of it.