Copyright 2002 Southeastern Newspapers Corporation
The Augusta Chronicle
October 13, 2002 Sunday, ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: SPORTS, Pg. C15
LENGTH: 720 words
HEADLINE: DON'T FORGET YOUR EAR GEAR GUNSHOTS JEOPARDIZE HEARING
BYLINE: Robert Pavey; Outdoors Editor
BODY:
The clamor of gunfire is a way of life for Steve Meldrum, who learned long ago that hearing protection is both necessary and beneficial.
"Ear protection is mandatory at every range I know of," said Meldrum, who manages Pinetucky Gun Club, where visitors and members fire as many at 50,000 noisy rounds each month.
Some hunters, however, are far less diligent about protecting their ears - and many don't even realize their hearing is slipping away because of gradual damage from unprotected exposure to gunfire.
"There's an absolute relationship between shooting noises and hearing loss," said Dr. Alan Johnson, an otologist at the Medical College of Georgia's Department of otolaryngology. "But it's a cumulative effect over the years. One shotgun blast doesn't lead to deafness - but when damage is done, it's hard to recover." The gradual nature of shooting-related hearing loss makes it even more important for hunters to use protection.
"A lifetime of shooting without protection will almost always lead to hearing loss at some point," he said. "Genetics can make it less or more severe, but everyone can be affected."
Like other loud noises, such as jet engines and amplified music, the blast of a firearm causes trauma to the ear. Long-gun shooters, in particular, have distinct symptoms to their hearing loss.
"Police officers, military veterans and people who shoot on a range have a more symmetric hearing loss," he said. "But with shooters of long guns, the right-handed shooter generally has the left side worse off than the right."
Such a disparity between ears is caused by the left ear being closer to the source of the blast - while the tilted right ear is somewhat shielded by the head.
Bill Kemple, co-owner of Hearing Aid Associates, sees the long-gun phenomenon in many clients whose hearing he tests. It even has a name: shooter's notch.
"We see it all the time," he said. "I can even tell whether a person is a right-handed or left-handed shot, based on their audiometric profile," Kemple said.
Ear damage from shooting noise is easily avoided by using protection - which ranges from inexpensive ear plugs to pricey electronic devices.
But anything is better than nothing, Dr. Johnson said.
"If you're exposed to any noise that causes ringing, or temporary threshold shifts where your ears sound muffled for a day or two, that's a sign that you're doing damage to inner ear," he said.
The parts of a human ear are sensitive and complex - and easily damaged.
"The cochlea has tiny nerve endings, hair cells, and they're like blades of grass," he said.
Like grass, gradual use allows the hairs to bounce back. Hearing damage is comparable to a worn path - and the grass cannot recover.
In the past, many hunters - not wanting to compromise their ability to hear the noises of the outdoors - were hesitant to use hearing protection.
However, technology is making it easier for hunters to enjoy the outdoors and protect their ears at the same time, said Mike Arndt, business development director for California-based Nu-Ear Electronics.
"Nobody wants to wear hearing aids," he said. "The average person waits 10 years before they break down and get the help they needed all along, and our job is to entice them into taking that step."
One product his company is experimenting with is a sound amplification device that also compresses loud noises that could harm the wearer's ears. It is comparable to the Walker's Game Ear products that perform a similar function - but vastly more sophisticated.
The idea, Arndt said, is to preserve the sportsman's ability to listen for the footsteps of a deer or the subtle call of a distant wild turkey - and still be protected when it's time to pull the trigger.
FAST FACTS
Some facts about shooting-related hearing loss:
Hearing damage builds up over time, and often cannot be reversed.
Almost 47 percent of active shooters have noticeable hearing loss.
Many target shooters use ear protection; hunters are less compliant.
Excessive noise is 85 decibels or more over eight hours.
Shotgun loads often create blasts of 150 to 160 decibels.
Group outings such as dove shoots or duck hunts cause more exposure.
Weapons with ported barrels and muzzle brakes are loudest of all.
SOURCES: E.A.R., Inc.; Wilkes Outdoors & Beyond
The Augusta Chronicle
October 13, 2002 Sunday, ALL EDITIONS
SECTION: SPORTS, Pg. C15
LENGTH: 720 words
HEADLINE: DON'T FORGET YOUR EAR GEAR GUNSHOTS JEOPARDIZE HEARING
BYLINE: Robert Pavey; Outdoors Editor
BODY:
The clamor of gunfire is a way of life for Steve Meldrum, who learned long ago that hearing protection is both necessary and beneficial.
"Ear protection is mandatory at every range I know of," said Meldrum, who manages Pinetucky Gun Club, where visitors and members fire as many at 50,000 noisy rounds each month.
Some hunters, however, are far less diligent about protecting their ears - and many don't even realize their hearing is slipping away because of gradual damage from unprotected exposure to gunfire.
"There's an absolute relationship between shooting noises and hearing loss," said Dr. Alan Johnson, an otologist at the Medical College of Georgia's Department of otolaryngology. "But it's a cumulative effect over the years. One shotgun blast doesn't lead to deafness - but when damage is done, it's hard to recover." The gradual nature of shooting-related hearing loss makes it even more important for hunters to use protection.
"A lifetime of shooting without protection will almost always lead to hearing loss at some point," he said. "Genetics can make it less or more severe, but everyone can be affected."
Like other loud noises, such as jet engines and amplified music, the blast of a firearm causes trauma to the ear. Long-gun shooters, in particular, have distinct symptoms to their hearing loss.
"Police officers, military veterans and people who shoot on a range have a more symmetric hearing loss," he said. "But with shooters of long guns, the right-handed shooter generally has the left side worse off than the right."
Such a disparity between ears is caused by the left ear being closer to the source of the blast - while the tilted right ear is somewhat shielded by the head.
Bill Kemple, co-owner of Hearing Aid Associates, sees the long-gun phenomenon in many clients whose hearing he tests. It even has a name: shooter's notch.
"We see it all the time," he said. "I can even tell whether a person is a right-handed or left-handed shot, based on their audiometric profile," Kemple said.
Ear damage from shooting noise is easily avoided by using protection - which ranges from inexpensive ear plugs to pricey electronic devices.
But anything is better than nothing, Dr. Johnson said.
"If you're exposed to any noise that causes ringing, or temporary threshold shifts where your ears sound muffled for a day or two, that's a sign that you're doing damage to inner ear," he said.
The parts of a human ear are sensitive and complex - and easily damaged.
"The cochlea has tiny nerve endings, hair cells, and they're like blades of grass," he said.
Like grass, gradual use allows the hairs to bounce back. Hearing damage is comparable to a worn path - and the grass cannot recover.
In the past, many hunters - not wanting to compromise their ability to hear the noises of the outdoors - were hesitant to use hearing protection.
However, technology is making it easier for hunters to enjoy the outdoors and protect their ears at the same time, said Mike Arndt, business development director for California-based Nu-Ear Electronics.
"Nobody wants to wear hearing aids," he said. "The average person waits 10 years before they break down and get the help they needed all along, and our job is to entice them into taking that step."
One product his company is experimenting with is a sound amplification device that also compresses loud noises that could harm the wearer's ears. It is comparable to the Walker's Game Ear products that perform a similar function - but vastly more sophisticated.
The idea, Arndt said, is to preserve the sportsman's ability to listen for the footsteps of a deer or the subtle call of a distant wild turkey - and still be protected when it's time to pull the trigger.
FAST FACTS
Some facts about shooting-related hearing loss:
Hearing damage builds up over time, and often cannot be reversed.
Almost 47 percent of active shooters have noticeable hearing loss.
Many target shooters use ear protection; hunters are less compliant.
Excessive noise is 85 decibels or more over eight hours.
Shotgun loads often create blasts of 150 to 160 decibels.
Group outings such as dove shoots or duck hunts cause more exposure.
Weapons with ported barrels and muzzle brakes are loudest of all.
SOURCES: E.A.R., Inc.; Wilkes Outdoors & Beyond