The typical summer day is usually filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family reunions to fireworks to sporting events. And while the majority of these activities are healthy, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with some of these activities can result in permanent hearing damage. This hearing damage could be due to anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks display.
Over time, really loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively permanent.
Although this type of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be successfully treated. Over the long run, you can safeguard your hearing and prevent damage by being aware of prevalent sources of loud noise and developing prevention strategies. With a few basic adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is summer really that noisy?
It can be really easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Here are a few of the most common and also most dangerous:
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is a perfect time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, tend to be really loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outside concerts. These events are, after all, intended to be really loud.
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is incredibly popular, but the wind rushing into 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.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around loud crowds, you may increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more relevant at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood parties to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your ears.
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. The powerful motors in many of these mechanical tools are incredibly loud. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are usually quite a bit quieter, though.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage begins to happen is about 85 dB. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is about this volume. That’s important to note because these sounds may not feel particularly noisy. But the volume of these devices can cause hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Noise-induced hearing loss effects millions of individuals every year. Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so significant. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply decreasing the volume on your devices. Damage will develop faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Get your hearing checked: In some cases, hearing loss creeps up on you quite gradually. Many people won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Often, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to have your hearing checked. 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 may already have.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Making use of disposable earplugs might not be as effective 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 noisy setting all of a sudden.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You might be surprised at just how rapidly sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone volume. Even your earbuds and headphones can start to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels start to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid loud environments (or don’t want to miss out on particular enjoyable activities), you can get a set of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you’re in settings that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. You can be especially benefited by using hearing protection costume made for you.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder 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 noisy sporting event, for example, go and spend some time in a quieter area.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you went to 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 substantial damage.
Noise-induced hearing loss is not inevitable. You’re hearing can be maintained by using prevention strategies. With the right 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 contacting us for an appointment.
