Summer is here!
That means it’s time to get out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to offer. But before you go to the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, don’t forget to protect your hearing.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re that loud. During the summer you’re much more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s really important to take the appropriate steps to safeguard your hearing.
One of the most significant steps is utilizing earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Swimming
Parasites and bacteria love water and can even live in relatively clean pools potentially resulting in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and stop infection.
Polluted water getting into your ears, while usually not a serious problem, can have some adverse consequences. It can cause inflammation, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by neglected infections.
It’s impossible to totally stay away from all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Summertime is the ideal time for a night of live music. Because the entertainers are trying to reach such a big audience, however, noise levels are often really high.
You may be exposed to over 120dB of sound depending on where you’re standing. That’s enough to lead to immediate and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to decrease sound, not distort it. The level of sound that can be stopped by earplugs will be identified by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. 20dB of sound will be blocked by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So if you’re attending a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be lowered to 100dB.
However, that’s still a potentially harmful level.
Safeguarding your hearing will mean utilizing a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for optimum protection.
This doesn’t only apply to concerts, it’s also relevant for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
Yard work
You do it every week, but the grass keeps growing. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you keep the long grass in check with a weed-whacker.
Your hearing will definitely be damaged by the loud volume of yard equipment. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you’re not wearing earplugs when you operate the mower, over time, you will be observably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
They’re a key part of Independence Day. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the independence of our country. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. They can create up to 175dB of noise. If you shot a gun right next to your head it would be around this volume.
If you’re going to a display in which the fireworks are thunderous and recurring, you’ll definitely need earplugs. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is extreme to seek help. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be corrected and since it happens so gradually, most people don’t realize they’re harming their hearing. Have your hearing assessed routinely by us to determine your risk level.