Hunters at an increased risk of hearing loss

Louisiana is Sportsman's Paradise and a hunter's paradise for many outdoorsmen and women.  

With that thrill comes a risk, one that could result in permanent hearing loss after repetitive exposure to loud noises.  There is a solution that can keep you hearing the wildlife, while canceling out the gunshots.

The noise from firing off even one round of ammunition can leave your ears ringing, something Dr. Jake Cavanaugh, audiologist with Hearing Solutions of Louisiana and West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, says is the precursor to hearing loss.

"In the inner ear, there are several hair cells and when they have a sudden impact noise, that can affect those cells or push them down," said Dr. Cavanaugh.  "The cell's way of crying out, 'we hurt, we hurt,' is the ringing a patient would hear in their ear."

That ringing is something Johnny Desormeaux of Carlyss has heard before.

When he became a hunting guide several years ago, he was reluctant to wear hearing protection, thinking it would affect a successful hunt.

"You hear the wings of ducks flying around, you can hear them quacking up real high or making a whistling sound," said Desormeaux, "if you had hearing protection on or regular ear plugs, you wouldn't be able to hear that."

Dr. Cavanaugh says he heard that concern from hunters before, but much of it came down to how their money was being shelled out.

"Hunters spend a lot of money on their gun, they spend a lot of money on their clothes, but they don't spend anything to protect their hearing," said Dr. Cavanaugh.

Standard earplugs are fine as a short term solution, although they block out softer noises with the louder ones.

An electronic shooter's ear was the protection Dr. Cavanaugh recommended for Desormeaux, to bring out the sounds of nature, and bring down the loud noises.

"It will amplify everything," said Dr. Cavanaugh, "the ambiance, the animals, leaves rustling, until they see a loud noise.  Once they see a loud noise, they'll cut off that from getting to the ear."

After countless hunts and rounds of shooting, Desormeaux's hearing is still great.  He says his device is small, comfortable, and has not taken away from his experience.

"You hear a little pop, pop, pop," he said, "but you can barely tell that shooting is actually going on."

Electronic hearing protection for hunters can start around $35  for the larger earmuffs.  The electronic ear plugs that amplify ambient noise start around $200.

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