The typical summer day is likely filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. And while most of these activities are safe, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage your ability to hear. A loud motorcycle engine or the roar of a crowd could be contributing to long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
Over time, really loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. This type of hearing loss has no cure.
There is no cure, but this type of hearing loss can be successfully controlled. Over the long run, you can protect your hearing and avoid damage by being aware of common 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 actually that noisy?
It can be very easy to miss noise risks during the summer months. Here are some of the most prevalent and also most harmful:
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are definitely loud enough to trigger permanent hearing damage.
- Driving: A Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you happen to be driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is a great time for home improvement projects. But it’s significant to remember that all of those power tools can be rather noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you use these tools.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outside concerts. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around loud crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, including a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Routine lawn care: This may include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are very loud. It’s worth pointing out that totally electric motors are usually quieter.
In general, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. This is around 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 the volume of these devices can cause hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Noise-related hearing loss impacts millions of individuals every year. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can present at any age. That’s why prevention is so significant. Some of the most reliable prevention strategies include the following:
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you attended a loud fireworks show, 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.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re far better than nothing! If you find yourself suddenly in a noisy environment, a cheap set of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recover. Damage will develop faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you very gradually. It could take years to notice in many cases. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to get your hearing checked. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB may not seem like a lot, but you would most likely be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly start damaging your hearing. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should regulate your time. Your ears can be protected from long-term damage in this way. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter area.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid loud situations (or don’t want to miss out on certain enjoyable activities), you can get a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you’re in settings that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. You can be particularly benefited by using hearing protection costume designed for you.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-induced hearing loss. Prevention strategies can help maintain your hearing. With the proper approach, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and safeguard your hearing.
Consulting with us can help start your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!