Can you damage your hearing by firing a gun?

You can cause temporary or permanent hearing damage if you don’t wear the proper protection. If you have fired a weapon without the right protection and think that you may have caused damage to your hearing, look out for these symptoms.

Can a gun damage your eardrum?

Most guns will not damage your eardrum unless the muzzle is near your ear. However, undamaged eardrums do not mean you will not experience some immediate hearing loss as well as some permanent damage. The ear has structures that are far more delicate than the eardrum.

How many decibels of gunshot damage your hearing?

Decibel levels of gunfire. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) says hearing damage occurs with noises of 85 dB or louder. Higher caliber guns produce a louder sound than their small caliber cousins; however, any shot fired next to an unprotected ear can be damaging.

Can a single gunshot make you lose your hearing?

While most noise-induced hearing loss results from continuous exposure to loud sounds, even a single gunshot blast can cause permanent damage. Terry said everyone within earshot of gunfire should make it a habit to wear hearing protection. “A single blast can cause lasting hearing loss and tinnitus ,” she said.

Why do your ears stop working when you shoot a gun?

“You may notice your ears feel stopped up when you’re done shooting and you can’t hear as well as you could before you began. That’s called a temporary threshold shift,” Terry explained. “The more you subject your ears to noises like gunshots, the more likely that temporary change is going to become permanent.”

Can you wear hearing protection when shooting?

Hearing protection will at least reduce the severity of your hearing loss, possibly keeping it to a level that’s still treatable with hearing aids. Every sport has its own protective gear and shooting is no exception. In this sport, the type of hearing protection you wear depends upon the environment.