From sporting events to family gatherings to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable activities. The majority of these activities are completely safe and healthy, but some do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage your ability to hear. This hearing damage could be the result of anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks display.
What is noise-induced hearing loss? This condition happens when overly loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss is irreversible.
Although this type of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be effectively managed. 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 safeguard your hearing health.
Is summer actually that noisy?
Summer may be one of those times of year in which noise hazards are easiest to miss. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are ideal 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.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. They happen at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are definitely loud enough to trigger irreversible hearing damage.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, especially at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outdoor concerts. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Driving: 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. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you are exposed.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are very loud. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are normally quite a bit quieter, though.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage starts to happen is around 85 dB. This is about the range of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds may not seem particularly loud so this is significant to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t result in damage.
How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this exact reason. Some of the most reliable prevention strategies include the following:
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss normally doesn’t develop suddenly. It could take years to detect in many circumstances. Getting your hearing examined can help you determine 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 may already have.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how fast sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone level. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly begin harming your hearing. You can become more conscious of when volume levels begin to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a set of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or aren’t willing to avoid certain loud situations. When you are in settings that are too loud, 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.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply lowering the volume on your devices. When everything is loud all the time, damage can progress much faster.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Making use of disposable earplugs may not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself suddenly in a noisy environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should limit your exposure time. This can help avoid long-term damage to your ears. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, go and spend some time in a less noisy area.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you attended a loud fireworks display, make sure your next day is a quiet one. This can give your ears more time to recover and avoid further and more substantial damage.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t unavoidable. You’re hearing can be preserved by making use of prevention strategies. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the correct strategy.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.