It is well known that sound is measured on the decibel (dB) system. But did you know that the scale is logarithmic? Meaning a 10dB noise is 10 times more powerful than 0dB, and 20dB is 100 times more powerful than 0dB. So the difference between hearing 0dB and 10dB is far smaller than the difference between hearing 100dB and 110dB.
Just to give you an idea of what decibels are like, total silence is 0dB, speech is around 60dB, and a jet engine is around 140dB. Gunshots too, come in at around 140dB. It may seem like no big deal since the sound of a gunshot only lasts for a few seconds, but the CDC reports that listening to sounds above 120dB for even brief bursts are permanently damaging to your ears.
Hearing loss frequently isn’t noticeable until years later so you may think you're fine when you're actually at risk. Each gunshot is slightly harmful to your ears and builds up with each additional damaging sound. Eventually your ears begin to wear down and your hearing obviously suffers.
Gunshots can cause tinnitus, a condition marked by a light ringing in your ears. Initially it can occur only briefly after exposure to noise, but eventually it can become permanent.
Earplugs, earplugs, earplugs!
When shooting, use hearing protection to protect yourself from these hearing complications. The Moldex Battleplugs are designed especially for shooting - mitigating the noise from gunshots. Earmuffs are also an option which protect from a similar range of sounds and are reusable.
So next time you head to the shooting range, make sure to pick up the Moldex Battleplugs so you can save your ears!