Best Shooting & Hunting Hearing Protection on the Market? | Westone Digital Defend Ear
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- Dr. Cliff Olson, Audiologist from Anthem Arizona, reviews the Westone Digital DefendEar Hearing Protection. Protecting your hearing while shooting guns is easier said than done. Typically, when you are shooting for sport, you need to communicate with other individuals around you. Traditional hearing protection hinders your ability to hold a conversation when worn properly for protecting your hearing against a loud impact of a firearm.
DefendEar Whitepaper: www.westone.co...
Website: www.DrCliffAuD...
Clinic Website: www.AppliedHea...
0:40 SoundGear Hearing Protection Review:
3 Different models of Westone DefendEar Digital Protectors:
1. DefendEar Digital 1 - Great for intermittent gunfire while still hearing and amplifying sounds around you.
2. DefendEar DIgital 2 - Has 2 programs. One for intermittent gunfire and one for sustained gunfire. Both designed so you can hear and amplify speech between gunshots.
3. DefendEar Hunter - Has 2 programs. One for intermittent gunfire, and one for Wind Noise Reduction while hunting. Both allow you to hear speech and amplify around you.
Pro's of the Westone Digital DefendEar:
1. Westone is an Ear Mold Expert - They've been around for ever and make everything from hearing protection to hearing aid earmolds.
2. The DefendEar protectors are made from their OtoBlast Silicone. This provides great protection against damaging noise levels compared to acrylic.
3. They provide great protection! - They give you an NRR of 26, but also have an IPIL rating which provides up to 44 dB of noise reduction of a Peak Exposure Level of a gunshot. Check out their white paper here:
www.westone.co...
Cons of the DefendEar
1. You need a custom ear mold - While this is the main reason these products work so well, finding a good hearing care professional can be difficult. To find a good one close to you, check out www.HearingTra....
2. The Cost - The Westone Digital DefendEar protectors can range from $1,300 for the Level 1 pair, to $1,900 for the hunter version pair. There are some protectors on the market that can charge up to $3,500 for a pair. Considering that just one gunshot can cause a permanent hearing loss, they could save you tens of thousands of dollars down the road.
Wish I had these before I permanently damaged my ear at the range. To anyone considering these or similar protection, but is hesitating due to cost, let me ask you this;
If you damage your hearing, the medical bills, hearing aids, treatments for tinnitus, etc. will run you into the 10's of thousands of dollars, not to mention the emotional and psychological costs. So, which is cheaper??
Listen to the Doc here. If you shoot or hunt at all, get something like this. You will not be sorry like I am.
I am leaning towards the Defender Earplugs. I currently use the west ones non electronic earplugs. Is Starkey NRR just as good? I
shoot sporting clays
Tinnitus sufferer here. I haven't been to the gun range In ages for fear of making it worse. Do you have any tips or suggestions that help you like using plugs and muffs? Or did you just quit shooting altogether . I'm a big proponent of the 2nd Amendment and miss the range dearly but my ears are more important
@@elyeyi369 I shoot regularly again. I use soft ear plugs and 33 dB muffs when I shoot anything in centerfire category. I just use plugs with rimfire.
My experience with tinnitus is this; it IS mind over matter. You must accommodate your brain to this perceived sound. There is no cure. That sucks, but life is not over because of it. I have hearing aids that have a tinnitus sound generator program in them and they do help. See an audiologist who is experienced in managing tinnitus patients.
You CAN get back to enjoying the shooting sports. Good luck.
@@dukebeach1 I appreciate the response friend. I cannot deny that my tinnitus was something I had to learn to accept for a long time. The worst part is the regret in not taking better care of your ears but you're right it definitely is mind over matter and I've come to terms with it. I was thinking the same, if I go back to the range I'm going to double up ie plugs AND muffs. Life is definitely not over and we have to keep on once again thanks for the taking the time to reply 👍🏾
Awesome breakdown of our DefendEar Digital line Dr. Olson! We're a little late to say thanks, but we really do appreciate this video! :D
If you have any other products you would like me to review, please send me an email at Cliff@AppliedHearingAZ.com
I have your custom rubber non electronic and ready to invest in an electronic set.
I have read all sorts of ads by manufacturers of Ear Pro, this is the first I have seen where a Doctor gives pros and cons and reasons.
Hey doc great video , do you think as someone who suffers from tinnitus that I should stay away from the gun range altogether? Or can I stack 2 types of ear pro to completely protect myself from further damage? (I.e. using plugs in the ear and muffs over) Is there such thing as complete protection? I would appreciate this coming from an expert such as yourself. BTW long time subscriber 👍🏾
Dr Cliff, I have horrible hearing and need hearing aids. I work around a lot of heavy equipment. I love shooting and hunting. My questions, would this be a good product as a alternative to a regular hearing aid?
What about hearing protection for hearing impaired in a manufacturing environment?
Like every video review you do Cliff, it's so well done and you cover everything, the pros and cons! When I'm at the range, I have to put my PHONAK 50's on mute, and then place standard muffs over them. It works but then I can't hear anything! I'm taking the NRA Range Safety Officers Course this Saturday, and I think going forward I finally need to get a set of these custom hearing/protection devices. Just hate to make yet another big investment! Have you ever reviewed the TETRA's? There are less expensive options, like the Caldwell E MAX Shadow Pro.
Well this video was very proficient with explaining all the details I was looking for! I don’t have any issue with paying this type of money to protect my hearing! I actually wanted it to have a higher NPR than 26. I’ve tried local hearing places and they were unable to recommend anything.
Hard decision on deciding between the bulky detachable electronic Westone's Defend earplugs or ESP Electronic Shooters Protection both about NRR 26. What does the public think?
Yes are cool. Ugh I'd love a pair of these
This things seem like they would just be great in a workshop where sounds can be loud but intermittent. Very convenient
Hi Jare. Yes, these plugs are for great overall suppression of noises over 85 dB. They would also likely work well in a workshop environment.
on the fence not sure would provide the best protection. Would like something above NRR 30 but seems all aparatus's are between NRR 23-27. Looking at Soundgear, Axil, ESP and Westone
Sorry, I am active Sorting Clays shooter
I prefer Westone myself over the others you mentioned. You want to ensure a deep impression for any device you choose.
@@DrCliffAuD Thanks for the feedback. I have the Westone rubber custom fitted ear plugs but leaning towards electronic ear plugs. #1 concern is max protection. Not sure if electronic is better than non electronic ear plugs at reducing NRR except for providing the audio. Thx again Dr Cliff.
Doctor Cliff, AuD What are a good set of hearing protection for rifle usage and hearing aids? And inexpensive. What would work good with Kirkland 9.0T's?
I already have a pair of custom molded ear protection. Would I be able to have the electronic system installed in my molds?
No.
I’ve read reviews on hearing protection that is better for outdoors but not good for indoor range (indoor has rapid echo that may be missed). What do you suggest for indoor noise suppression?
I have several battery operated shooter's ear muffs. I think all of them cut off the sound of a a shot very quickly but some recover to normal levels almost instantly while others take as much as 4 or 5 seconds to recover. How long does it take for this product. Or can you suggest a better quick recovery model that works near instantly.
Where is the white paper that you reference at the end of the video? With regard to noise attenuation, my rifle with brake is 165db. With 42db of attenuation (shown in the ips chart) there is still 103db of pressure reaching my eardrum. Isn’t that still dangerous? Is a shot at that level capable of damaging hearing? Thanks!
yes
@@Canadian_Eh_I You did not give a source for the white paper. And your answer yes is interesting. It implies that wearing these devices does not provide adequate hearing protection and we should, if we want to preserve our hearing, use larger and more efficient ear protection.
@@bendrixbailey1430 Point is that no level of ear protection will protect you from noises that loud due to bone conduction. Sound will go right through your skull. A motorcycle helmet with viser would makea difference though in addition to plugs....
What are your thoughts about ESP's electronic ear protection?
I just got a pair last week. I will be taking them out to the range in a few weeks. I'll probably post a video in about a month. Pretty impressive so far.
Thanks! Excited to hear how they compare to the DefendEar and SoundGear offerings...
I read a claim that digital hearing protection can malfunction and amplify sound rather than reduce it, leading to hearing damage. The poster claims they spoke with an audiologist who said they had seen several patients this happened to. Any thoughts? Trying to decide between analog (Etymotic GSP's) vs. something digital....
This would literally be impossible because there is no digital hearing protection on the market that has an MPO even as high as a gunshot. Worst case scenario if a digital protector malfunctioned is that you would receive the non-suppressed NRR value of that protector.
OK, thank you very much for your response.
Question for you: I wear Oticon OPN1s. I understand from my audiologist that they will cut out if a loud noise happens. Is there a way to turn them into "prescription electronic hearing protection"?
They don't technically cut out, they limit the output not to exceed a certain dB level. They cannot be used as hearing protection.
Doctor Cliff, AuD that’s too bad. I was hoping that maybe when I replaced them I could replace the domes with a custom piece like this product and use them as such. Oh well. Guess I’ll just keep taking them out and putting on my over the ear protection.
Would this work in an industrial setting? I’m a Diesel mechanic in a large shop. I’m looking for something to knock down noise level but still hear what around me, that I can wear all day.
Go for adv impulse or adv max. Impulse has a dB switch on it
Hey, those things are expensive puppies, $1,400. You obviously don’t hunt deer. When you’r out in the outback sir, limbs tug at you from all directions. Loosing hearing protection happens a lot, making loosing one or both an awful experience especially at $1,400 a pop. Why don’t you do a review of the OTTO NoizeBarrier Micro. The military uses them too. They suppress sound down to 23db. Check it out Doc.
I have a patient who uses the OTTOs and likes them too. Deer hunting isn't fun after you've hunted humans. 😝
Where do you buy it
From an Audiologist.
Too much work just to get some ordered or else I would buy them
*Decibullz Percution the best*
Dude, a tie clip?? Seriously??
He lost me with the hand talking
Hunter Ventures lol, sorry, I'm working on that!😂
Hunter Ventures I agree. Can’t stand folks who can’t talk without their hands. Good information in the video though.
What?
Gesticulating is perfectly natural don’t listen man, keep up the good work
@@smokysantana Jesus... you better never come to Italy you'd have a hard time here in my country