From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with fun experiences. And while the majority of these activities are healthy, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these activities can cause permanent 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, very loud noises can cause damage to your ears. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
There is no cure, but this form of hearing loss can be effectively controlled. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and formulate 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?
It can be very easy to miss noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most common hazardously loud noises include the following:
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in many of these mechanical tools are extremely loud. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are usually much quieter, though.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, are often quite loud. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you utilize these tools.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach damaging volumes in your ears and this is even more significant if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outdoor concerts. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Regrettably, fireworks are extremely loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you could 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. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is about this volume. These sounds might not seem particularly loud so this is important to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Each year, millions of people are impacted by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this precise reason. Some of the most reliable prevention strategies include the following:
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would most likely be surprised how fast sounds can increase above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can quickly begin harming your hearing. You can become more conscious of when volume levels begin to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you attended a loud fireworks display, make sure your next day is a quiet one. This can give your ears more time to recuperate and prevent further and more significant damage.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a set of ear plugs or ear muffs handy in case you can’t or aren’t willing to avoid specific loud situations. Use this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in situations that are loud. This can help you avoid damage. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should regulate your exposure time. Your ears can be safeguarded from long-term damage in this way. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, walk to a quieter spot every thirty minutes or so.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply decreasing the volume on your devices. Damage will advance more rapidly if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Many people won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to have your hearing examined. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment solutions for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Using disposable earplugs may not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself abruptly in a loud environment, a cheap set of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
You don’t need to resign yourself to getting noise-induced hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. With the right approach, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.