The average summer day is usually filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. And while the majority of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with some of these experiences can lead to permanent hearing damage. A loud motorcycle engine or the roar of a crowd could be causing long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
Over time, extremely loud noises can cause damage to your ears. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss is irreversible.
Even though this type of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully treated. Over the long run, you can safeguard your hearing and prevent damage by being aware of common sources of loud noise and formulating prevention strategies. With a few basic adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is summer actually that noisy?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Here are a few of the most common and also most harmful:
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. They occur at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are easily loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage.
- Driving: Taking a Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. This is especially true if the sound happens for long intervals without breaks.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present substantial hazards to your hearing health. These events are, after all, intended to be really loud.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. The powerful motors in many of these mechanical tools are extremely loud. It’s worth pointing out that entirely electric motors are often quieter.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you may increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more relevant at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, including a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are perfect activities during the summer. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that all of those power tools can be quite noisy. The more you utilize these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage starts to happen is around 85 dB. This is about the volume of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. That’s important to take note of because these sounds may not seem particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Noise-related hearing loss effects millions of individuals every year. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-related hearing loss can present at any age. Prevention is significant for this precise reason. Here are some of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t happen suddenly. 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’ll be able to discuss how to avoid additional damage, which treatment solutions might be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder the environment, the more you should regulate your time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your ears. If you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid loud situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular fun activities), you can get a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in settings that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB may not seem like a lot, but you would probably 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 aware of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. Additional and more significant damage can be avoided by giving your ears a chance to rest and recuperate.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing disposable earplugs might not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a noisy environment all of a sudden.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply reducing the volume on your devices. Damage will advance more rapidly if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
Noise-related 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.
Start your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.