The typical summer day is usually filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. And while the majority of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with some of these experiences can result in irreversible hearing damage. This hearing damage could be the result of anything from a roaring motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks show.
Over time, really loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is effectively permanent.
Even though this kind of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully treated. Raising your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better manage risks and establish prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is it really that loud during the summer?
Summer may be one of those times of year where noise hazards are easiest to overlook. Here are a few of the most common and also most dangerous:
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be quite loud. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you use these tools.
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you are exposed.
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are usually quite a bit quieter, though.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present substantial risks to your hearing health. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Fireworks events: Many places have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can definitely cause damage to your ears.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you may increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage begins to occur is around 85 dB. This is around the range of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds may not seem especially loud so this is important to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Each year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can present at any age. That’s why prevention is so significant. Here are a few of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid specific loud situations. Wear this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in environments that are noisy. This can help you avoid damage. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss creeps up on you really gradually. It could take years to detect in many circumstances. Having your hearing examined can help you identify whether you have noise-related hearing loss. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment options for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how rapidly sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone level. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. There are many dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you monitor ambient noise levels, so you can be more aware of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. This can give your ears more time to recuperate and avoid further and more significant damage.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recuperate. When everything is loud all the time, damage can advance more quickly.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should regulate your time. Your ears can be safeguarded from long-term damage in this way. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter spot.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Using disposable earplugs might not be as effective as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself abruptly in a noisy environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
You don’t need to resign yourself to getting noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be preserved by making use of prevention strategies. With the proper strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and safeguard your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.