The average summer day is likely filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. Most of these activities are perfectly safe and healthy, but there are some that do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these experiences can result in irreversible hearing damage. This hearing damage could be the result of anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks show.
Over time, very loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. The result of this exposure is loss of hearing. This type of hearing loss has no cure.
There is no cure, but this form of hearing loss can be effectively managed. Raising your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and develop prevention strategies, so you can protect your hearing over the long run. You can safeguard the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by making use of a few basic adjustments.
Is summer really that noisy?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Loud concerts: Even outside concerts have substantial hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, particularly at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. They occur at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Regrettably, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your ears.
- Routine lawn care: This may include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are typically much quieter, though.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an ideal time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, are often really loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
- Driving: Taking a Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you happen to be driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you’re exposed.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage starts to occur is around 85 dB. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is about this volume. These sounds may not seem especially loud so this is important to note. But the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Every year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age. That’s why prevention is so significant. Some of the most effective prevention strategies include the following:
- Get your hearing checked: In some cases, hearing loss creeps up on you really slowly. Many individuals won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Getting your hearing checked can help you identify whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. 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.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid loud situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular fun activities), you can invest in a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. Use this hearing protection when you need to, when you are in environments that are loud. This can help prevent damage. You can be especially benefited by utilizing hearing protection costume made for you.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder the environment, the more you should regulate your time. This can help protect against long-term damage to your ears. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, go to a quieter spot every thirty minutes or so.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply lowering the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some rest and a chance to recover. When everything is loud all the time, damage can progress much faster.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing disposable earplugs may not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a loud environment all of a sudden.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you attended a loud fireworks show, make sure your next day is a quiet one. Additional and more significant damage can be prevented by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recuperate.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB may not seem like a lot, but you would most likely be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly start harming your ears. There are numerous dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you track ambient noise levels, so you can be more mindful of when your surroundings become dangerous to your hearing.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t inevitable. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. With the correct strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Consulting with us can help start your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!