Summer is here!
That means it’s time to go out and partake in all of the fun experiences that the season has to provide. But keep the health of your hearing in mind before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or maybe a great backyard get-together.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t think they’re that loud. So it’s essential to take steps to protect your ears, especially during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
One of the most significant steps is using earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Going for a swim
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can result in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and prevent infection.
While pool-borne illness isn’t usually serious, polluted water getting inside of your ear canal can have harmful effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the outcome.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by neglected infections.
It’s impossible to totally avoid all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, but using swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Attending a concert is always a good time, especially during the summer. But live concerts are usually really loud.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you could be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). These volume levels can instantly cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs will block some of that sound but won’t distort it. The amount of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be identified by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be lowered to around 100 dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
Protecting your hearing will mean utilizing a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Within 15 minutes, you can develop permanent hearing damage even if you use the highest level of protection. Use earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for best protection.
The same goes for indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, barbecues, celebrations, or other events where sounds are being amplified through speakers.
Yard work
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You take measures like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks nice. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Power tools and other yard equipment can be very loud, and prolonged exposure can and will damage your hearing. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your ears and it will become more evident over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July comes around, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our country. But there’s a dark side to fireworks. The noise they make can be in excess of 175 dB. If you fired a gun right near your head it would be about this volume.
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. You should get the highest NRR rated earplugs, particularly if you’re close. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
Protecting your hearing is important
Seek help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Most people most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and regrettably, there’s no cure. Give us a call right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.