Digital hearing protection

Dani

Dani

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Hey all....today I had to go to the hearing doctor for work because work has decided they want me to have custom molded ear plugs for shooting here at work.


Since I was there at the hearing doctor I figured that I'd talk to them about hearing protection for hunting. There was a recommendation for digital hearing protection and they suggested custom fit plugs by Starkey Hearing Industries and then also they gave me a brochure for Westone Digital DefendEar custom plugs. They both offer amplification which I really don't need with my current level of hearing, though I get once I stuff something in my ears I won't be able to hear the way I can now. My concern with sound amplification is that there will be amplification of the wind and that is all I will hear all the time. And then that just seems to me that it totally defeats the purpose of the ability to hear and provide noise protection. And then I won't wear them if all I'm hearing is the wind (which will then be a huge waste of money). Has anyone here had any experience with either of these companies? People who have used these products? Or similar ones? Are people happy with their products? Unhappy? Any feedback on these companies' products would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance


Dani
 
Dani,

I'm not familiar with either company but I am familiar with hearing aides and other hearing protection. Many or most of the current crop of hearing protection including hearing aides have noise limiting circuits in them that shut off the incoming sound when it reaches a threshold. All sound below that level is heard normally. Check with the companies with this info in mind and have them reassure you of that.

You are correct that hearing aides that amplify all incoming sound will have the problem of extra noise be it wind, etc. The sounds that I find the most objectionable with mine are water running in the sink or human voices and specifically those that are higher pitched. Parties or sitting in a restaurant or bar are particularly difficult. Wind typically doesn't bother me all that much.
 
can't wait for the responses you will get here Dani

i have been looking at these for a couple year - and i do need the amplification lol

on one hunting board there was a suggestion the the NRA hearing benefit can be used - i expect that is only for true hearing aids
 
I am also interested in what people have to say. I used to carpool with an ex Starky salesperson of 20 years before I left my last job. I wish had hearing protection when I told her I didn't use any when hunting. That was 45 min drive I thought would never end. Since then I have used just regular ear plugs but have been looking at hearing protection with amplification but have concern's about the wind as well. I have been looking the behind the ear style since they seem to be less expensive than the custom molded type.
 
Dani,
I've worn hearing aids now for many years. Wind can be an issue with certain styles of hearing aids. Most of the aids I have used have been the Starkey brand. The smaller "in the canal" aids are the best as far as resistance to excessive wind noise. I suspect the ear protection devices will function in much the same manner as my hearing aids. Yes my hearing aids will also cut off any noises over a certain level. In fact mine will only cutout the offending noise (based on frequency range) while still allowing other noises to pass on thru to your ear. Cheaper electronic muffs and such will shut off ALL noises for a second or two (when an over the threshold noise is detected).
They will definitely take a bit getting used to, your mind will retrain itself to the new sound and soon you won't even notice. The more you wear them the natural they will seem.
 
Dani, In fact mine will only cutout the offending noise (based on frequency range) while still allowing other noises to pass on thru to your ear.
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So... like a Spouse or a Co-worker?
 
My dad has pretty bad hearing loss from years of hunting without hearing protection. I (and those around me) noticed that I was beginning to say "what?" more often than normal. So, this past summer, I decided it was time to find a pair of ear plugs that provided protection while still allowing me to enjoy the sounds of the marsh.

I spent quite a while researching them and finally decided to go with Etymotic gunsport pro digital plugs. There were a few other brands that cost about the same and were comparable. (SportEar, Westone, 3M Pelter)

They are great. The inner-ear tip is replaceable and the plugs come with a variety of tips in different shapes so you can find which ones fit you best. It took me a few hunts to get used to them, but I will never go back. I wear them from the time I leave the vehicle until I get back in to leave the marsh.

This version has optional amplification, so I can easily flip between normal/amplified mode. The wind can be a bit bothersom at certain angles, but I don't notice it most of the time. Wearing a face mask seems to filter most of the background noise out. They use inexpensive (over 100 for $15) hearing aid batteries that last about a week and a half each. If you don't put the batteries in, they work like normal ear plugs.
 
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Dani

A few years back I got a pair of musicians noise plugs (non-digital) I believe were made by Westone. Custom molded, they decreased the volume when above a certain threshold. They did not change the pitch, and they did not decrease the ability to hear in low volume situations (I could literally hear a whisper). I don't remember them being bothersome in the wind (or at least any more bothersome than the wind actually blowing in my ears), but wore them mostly indoors. I used them at work, woodworking or running the chainsaw at home, shooting (target) but never hinted with them. If I'd been in a hunting situation with multiple guns going off at a steady pace (ie. not hunting ducks in Michigan) I think I'd have been more apt to use them. Although they don't distort the sound, because they fill out your ear canal so well, it has a slight sound like you have a cold stuffing up your head a little. As it stands, I cannot locate them for some time, and am thinking I should bite the bullet and get another pair.

I believe I was out about $150 when I got these. What are the digital ones setting you back?

Chuck

PS when they mold those things, its a little freeky...they basically squirt an expanding foam epoxy into your ear
 
They use inexpensive (over 100 for $15) hearing aid batteries that last about a week and a half each.
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Scott,
I use the Duracell size 312 batteries and get one week out of them, however they are costing me about 80 cents to a dollar each. Where and what size are you getting at the price you spoke of?
 
Chuck....definitely the molding the ear process was weird. The silicone mold stuff that they use is the same stuff I use here at work so I knew what it was, but it was really weird to feel it squirted into my ear and then feel and hear it drying.


I've thought about the off the shelf hearing protection like the SportEar and such. The insert into the ear, not the behind the ear stuff. My biggest concern with those is that with having small ears they will be like other plugs for me and end up hurting after an hour or two of use. I can handle foam plugs ok for an extended period, but the plastic flanged ones I can't get a good seal with the "small" and the "large" hurt so bad that I have to take them out after an hour or two. So I'd consider some off the shelf hearing protection if there are foam inserts instead of the plastic like I see much more commonly.


The custom molded ear plugs that work is providing for me are $160. I'll be sure to wear these a bunch around the house with doing some outdoor work to see how comfy they are but I couldn't wear them hunting because if they cancelled as much noise as the silicone mold stuff they squirted into my ears then I'd be pretty much deaf in the woods or marsh. The Dr. said that the custom molded plugs from Starkey are $600 for the basic and $750 for the premium. So it's a big difference from the off the shelf versions that are in the $300-$400 range. Are custom molded plugs THAT much better? Wouldn't the technology be about the same for the electronics part?
 
I always thought these were "different". If you need some Dani, I think we still make them. They go well with the duct tape band aides we make as well (I think we still make those band aides). I could send you the ear plugs and Eric the band aides.......


View attachment plugs.jpg


Mark W
 
The Dr. said that the custom molded plugs from Starkey are $600 for the basic and $750 for the premium. So it's a big difference from the off the shelf versions that are in the $300-$400 range. Are custom molded plugs THAT much better? Wouldn't the technology be about the same for the electronics part?
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Dani,
Based my experience with hearing aids, go with the most you can afford. In my experience this is a case in which you do get what you pay for. Yes you will notice a difference, especially the comfort level with a custom molded fit. Yes there will be a difference between the $600 basic and the $750 premium. No you will never know the difference because they will not give you a long enough trial period to actually and fully compare the two choices. Trust me the difference will be there.
Would you rather spend $300 to $400 for something you will not wear or $600 to $750 for something that if taken care of should last you at least 6 to 8 years? (probably longer as you will not wear them 100 percent of your waking hours like my hearing aids)
 
Dani,
I pulled the trigger on buying the westone hearing protection a couple of years ago for shooting skeet and in the duck blind. I like them, and I can hold a conversation and hear ducks quacking with no problem. The last time I was in the blind, a few ten gauges where there with me and I was sure happy to be wearing them. My biggest problem is to remember to pack them in my field bag -- because they are usually in the skeet bag. When I purchased my custom fitted ear plugs I think I paid about $150 at the doctors office.

Hope this helps,
Jack
 
Dani,
These did come with 2 different types of foam tips as well as 4 different types of rubber flanged tips that you can try. There are additional tips you can order as well if none of the packaged tips work for you. I wasn't a fan of the flanged ear plugs either and was worried about it. I ended up liking one of them though. They were much more pliable than what comes with the cheapo ear plugs.

Dave,
These use size 10 batteries. I looked up the order and it was actually $20 for 120 batteries. I got them through Amazon.
 
Dani,
I purchased the ESP digital ear plugs a few years back and have been very happy with them. They are custom molded at the hearing specialist. I guide for snow geese which means all day hunting. I am able to wear them all day with little discomfort. Any other ear plug I used in the past would eventually irritate my ears. The ESP's have a dial for sound amplification so you can set it to what is "normal" for you to hear. Turn them up a little for deer hunting if you want, if there is excessive wind or road noise, you can turn the volume down. When a shot is fired the noise is cancelled. It is such a pleasure to be able to hear conversations from others sitting beside me while at the same time protecting my ears from further damage. They are not cheap...the price of a good semi auto, but hearing loss cant be reversed and in my mind, worth every cent. Regardless of what brand you, or others reading these posts decide is best, make the purchase, you wont regret it.
 
I've wanted to get a set for years and as I'm getting older I finally pulled the trigger this season. I have the Starkey model, custom, volume control, etc. I've used them both in the uplands and duck hunting. If I'm being completely honest I hate wearing them, I hate the feel and I hate how they treat the sound. That being said I do like getting back to the truck and not having any ringing, not worrying about blowing a whistle or a call. I think for a long time I've been reluctant about shooting because it is something I have always worried about. That worry was gone this year. I'm sure it will be something a person can get used to. I had hoped with the high-end custom model I wouldn't notice them but I'd be lying if I said that was true. If you are concerned about protecting your hearing they are workable and will do their job, but it does definitely alter the experience in my book.
 
I have a set of anolog starkey in ear, they are great for shooting, but I have a hard time huntig with them although I think the newer digital ones would be much clearer and not amplify the white noise. walking in the woods and calling is the hardest with the analog model but asmine are from around 2002 i would ope and think that the new digital models are far better.
 
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