"Jonathan Goodish" wrote

There is zero evidence that ANR does anything to prevent hearing loss
over and above a good passive headset. If you can't cite clinical data
to substantiate such an important claim, it it quite irresponsible to
make such a claim.

Simply because ANR has not been around long enough for any long term studies
to have taken place.

If the total decibel reduction ratings are higher for an ANR unit versus a
passive unit, would that not be a pretty darn good reason to believe that
they will result in less hearing loss?

How about the fact that ANR users report being able to hear com traffic much
more clearly? What happens if you can not hear ATC clearly? Most would
turn up the volume, so they can make the conversation out against the
background noise. The loud com blaring in the ears would be another cause
of hearing loss that is not ever even factored into the decibel ratings of
headsets.

I think that it is just as irresponsible or more irresponsible to make
claims or imply that passive is just as good as ANR, when there are no long
term studies to show that they are equal to the protection that ANR
provides.
--
Jim in NC