The typical summer day is usually filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family reunions to fireworks to sporting events. Most of these activities are completely safe and healthy, but some do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm your ability to hear. This hearing damage could be due to anything from the roar of a 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 permanent.
Even though this type of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully treated. Over the long run, you can protect your hearing and prevent damage by being aware of prevalent sources of loud noise and formulating prevention strategies. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is summer really that noisy?
It can be very easy to overlook noise risks during the summer months. Some of the most common hazardously loud noises include the following:
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, particularly at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts have significant risks to your hearing health. These events are, after all, intended to be quite loud.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are normally much quieter, though.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach hazardous volumes in your ears and this is even more relevant if you drive a convertible. This is especially true if the sound occurs for long intervals without breaks.
- Fireworks events: Many places have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. They occur at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can definitely cause damage to your ears.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are perfect activities during the summer. But it’s crucial to remember that all of those power tools can be really noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you use these tools.
The volume level that’s considered to be 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 especially loud so this is significant to note. But the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Each year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this precise reason. Some of the most effective prevention strategies include the following:
- 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 loud sporting event, for example, walk to a quieter spot every thirty minutes or so.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re far better than nothing! An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a loud setting all of a sudden.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. Additional and more substantial damage can be avoided by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recuperate.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you very gradually. It could take years to notice in many cases. Getting your hearing checked 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 solutions for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You might be surprised at just how fast sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone level. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest 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.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a set of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid specific noisy situations. When you are in environments that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
You don’t need to resign yourself to getting noise-related hearing loss. Prevention strategies can help preserve your hearing. With the proper 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.