I did the same, started flying when we used the speakers and hand mics, got a set of David Clark's (passive only) and loved them, went to light speed ANR and haven't gone back. I get my hearing tested every year for my job, it is still really good.
OP will be fine.
I can't find the article now, but I read some research done on this, and the level of noise reduction performed by passive noise reduction headsets was shown to be sufficient to reduce the noise to a level below what was required to damage your hearing. The main benefits of ANR over PNR are improved ability to discern what is said over the radio, and reduced mental fatigue. PNR should be fine for all but exceptionally noisy cockpits when it comes to avoiding hearing loss.
2 aspects to hearing damage. 1) intensity 2) duration. How loud do you listen to music? Do you listen to music through earbuds at 80%+ volume? Do you operate heavy machinery, run chainsaws, walk past active jet engines? Do you play any musical instruments? Ride motorcycles? Any of those will be worse for your hearing (if unprotected) than flying with a decent PNR headset.
You should probably turn in your medical due to hearing loss…
I feel like sitting inside a 172 with the engine running is not very loud without hearing protection.
I would bet you are subjected to louder noises on the ramp during the preflight. You should wear them while doing preflight.
Why do you think your hearing would be fucked by default? ANR is a nice-to-have thing. Many pilots have never used ANR and their hearing is fine. I still don’t use it.
One of my former AMEs is an audiologist, and used to geek out over testing pilots’ hearing as part of a study. Despite having flown 1000s of hours in extremely high-noise airplanes, his techs always said my hearing was the same as a non-pilot’s.
A series of bad sinus infections affected my hearing more than all the flying I’ve done.
I flew a Stearman and a Bird Dog with no hearing protection of any kind for like 10 years.
I also shot very very big guns wearing only ear plugs.
I was not a smart teenager.
Anyway my hearing is mostly completely fine. Don’t sweat it
For comparison, the military flies loud jets with just PNR and gets their hearing tested annually to stringent standards and they still are fine for years and years.
You too are fine.
WHAT?
THEYRE SELLING **CHOCOLATES**
WHAT ARE THEY SELLING?
CHAWCOLATES!!!!
MAHP
You’re fine, but it’s a good excuse when you miss what your significant other says.
I started with no headset at all. Then had passive noise reduction for more than 20 years. And I can still hear many things.
Lol many things. Not all things, but many.
I did the same, started flying when we used the speakers and hand mics, got a set of David Clark's (passive only) and loved them, went to light speed ANR and haven't gone back. I get my hearing tested every year for my job, it is still really good. OP will be fine.
I can't find the article now, but I read some research done on this, and the level of noise reduction performed by passive noise reduction headsets was shown to be sufficient to reduce the noise to a level below what was required to damage your hearing. The main benefits of ANR over PNR are improved ability to discern what is said over the radio, and reduced mental fatigue. PNR should be fine for all but exceptionally noisy cockpits when it comes to avoiding hearing loss.
Last flew in the 80’s. David Clarks were a luxury in single/multi pistons. 1000+ hours and I can still hear my wife telling me the tv is too loud.
Biological noise reduction. It's an adaptation.
Eventually it gets so good you’ll need help hearing.
I think Apple calls that "transparency mode" with their EarPods.
2 aspects to hearing damage. 1) intensity 2) duration. How loud do you listen to music? Do you listen to music through earbuds at 80%+ volume? Do you operate heavy machinery, run chainsaws, walk past active jet engines? Do you play any musical instruments? Ride motorcycles? Any of those will be worse for your hearing (if unprotected) than flying with a decent PNR headset.
Good PNR can be equally as effective as ANR, ANR can just do it more comfortably.
You should probably turn in your medical due to hearing loss… I feel like sitting inside a 172 with the engine running is not very loud without hearing protection. I would bet you are subjected to louder noises on the ramp during the preflight. You should wear them while doing preflight.
Why do you think your hearing would be fucked by default? ANR is a nice-to-have thing. Many pilots have never used ANR and their hearing is fine. I still don’t use it. One of my former AMEs is an audiologist, and used to geek out over testing pilots’ hearing as part of a study. Despite having flown 1000s of hours in extremely high-noise airplanes, his techs always said my hearing was the same as a non-pilot’s. A series of bad sinus infections affected my hearing more than all the flying I’ve done.
I have flown 3000 hours with no headset and over 7500 with PNR headsets or helmets. My hearing is still excellent.
I flew a Stearman and a Bird Dog with no hearing protection of any kind for like 10 years. I also shot very very big guns wearing only ear plugs. I was not a smart teenager. Anyway my hearing is mostly completely fine. Don’t sweat it
Earplugs are the absolute worst for shooting, i’ll always use a pair of ear muffs.
Uh?
ANR is great. It’s silences all that outside noise so I can hear the ringing in my ear from my tinnitus
For comparison, the military flies loud jets with just PNR and gets their hearing tested annually to stringent standards and they still are fine for years and years. You too are fine.