Lots of shooting without protection when I was young, marine corps aviation and Boeing manufacturing on the 737 line with ear muffs or plugs. I was hit in the nose with a golf club when I was 5. I’ll be 60 next April and I got hearing aids 6 years ago. The audiologist asked if I used a lot of antibiotics. Well, with a sinus injury sinus infections were frequent. Every doc throws antibiotics at you.
The audiologist said there is a high degree of correlation between antibiotics and hearing loss.
I just bought my second set of hearing aids from Costco. They aren’t perfect, but they help a lot. Wind sucks with hearing aids.
Put suppressors on any weapons you have to shoot quickly. Otherwise use hearing protection to save what you have.