sterling7c said:
The hairs you speak of are in fluid within the acoustic labyrinth - this is behind the tympanic membrane (ear drum). Unless the membrane is perforated any hearing loss wil be temporary.
The anatomy is correct, but the physiology is badly flawed. Sensoneural hearing loss can occur with a functioning tympanic membrane. It is certainly much more likely and profound with a membrane puncture, but that is not a necessary pre-requisite.
Any hearing loss from a gun shot indoors, unprotected SHOULD be temporary, but that's not a guarantee and depends upon the acoustic properties of the room itself, person's age, physical health, medications they may be taking, and even if they are smokers (blood CO levels potentiates noise-induced hearing loss - yes, this applies to smoky bars and loud bands, too).
msiley said:
The tiny hairs in your ears that make hearing possible will be damaged regardless of any psychological masking of the event.
True. Adrenaline or an intense focus on a threat that results in limited perception (or "tunnel vision") is not protective of any physical trauma, it just indeed "masks" it temporarily.
Frankly, I'm very skeptical of the wisdom of using hearing protection in a self-defense situation. I'm not one to carp over the sue-happy speculation that seems to populate SD talk on this forum ("Don't use lead bullets - you'll be sued for trying to poison them!") - but handicapping your hearing when trying to determine what is going on in the night in your home seems really un-wise:
1) You are limiting the one fully-functional sense you have that can help you determine what is going on, and
2) You've already demonstrated you plan to shoot,
I'd rather go into a situation with my senses intact and my mind open, and be able to explain it that way later if things, unfortunately, went south.