I Can't Hear!!

There's a scene in Saving Private Ryan which addresses the hearing loss problem for soldiers in combat. For all the stuff that Spielberg got wrong in that movie, he got that bit right.

It's a major issue with using firearms indoors for personal defense, too. Just one 9mm round is enough to make you deaf for hours.

Foam earplugs (EAR Brand!) are cheap and easy. I wore 'em every day for many years, working in noisy auto plants. Didn't interfere too much with conversation. Also wore 'em all the time when riding motorcycles. But they take 30 seconds to insert correctly. Time you won't have in an emergency. Anticipate. Wear 'em if there's even a chance that you may be exposed to loud noises. Buy 'em by the gross!

The super-soft foam kind do not work as well, BTW. Only the yellow cylinder EAR brand really does the job. I know. I'm profoundly deaf for not having started using earplugs in my 20s instead of my 50s. Ordinary life is a serious trial now. I have to read lips to help myself most of the time. Have given this a lot of study, as have the automotive plant-safety people. Foam plugs are mandatory on every plant floor I was ever on.

Much bulkier are noise-cancelling electronic earmuffs. These are quite amazing. I use 'em on the range. A bit weird to not hear the gun's discharge at all, but then you do hear all the echos coming back from downrange. Good ones even amplify low level sound. If you can afford the bulk and the weight, these are by far the best solution. Stock up on spare batteries, however, and always turn 'em off when not in use.

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I Can't Hear!!