Gun Control & RKBA

Silencers reduce the noise and help prevent long term hearing problems. Perhaps a better name for silencers would be noise reduction aids as a high powered firearm is still quite loud even with a silencer.

Over years of shooting I developed some loss of hearing although to be fair I also worked in a factory with a high noise level for 37 years. A co-worker who didn't shoot on a regular basis had his hearing tested and it was found that at some frequencies his hearing was damaged. The company I worked for would get enough complaints that they would test the db levels of the envioronment and it would always come up just short of being at a damaging level. Then another piece of equipment would be added which increased the noise level considerably but another test would show the level was still acceptable. Therefore I can't attribute my hearing loss to only shooting firearms. In the last few years I worked at the factory I advised a lot of new employees to use ear plugs and many did.

Even though I wore ear protection I did a lot of shooting on an indoor pistol range. That undoubtedly contributed to my hearing loss. Hearing loss is often due to the long term effects of being exposed to a high noise level. The loss builds up gradually in many cases.

Fortunately I am not at the point where I have to use a hearing aid. Since I am now 71 I consider myself lucky to be able to hear as well as I do.