From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with fun experiences. And while the majority of these activities are healthy, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage your ability to hear. This hearing damage could be caused by anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks display.
Over time, really loud noises can cause damage to your ears. As a result, you experience hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is irreversible.
Even though this kind of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be successfully managed. Increasing your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better control risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can protect your hearing over the long run. You can protect the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by using a few simple adjustments.
Is it actually that loud during the summer?
It can be very easy to miss noise risks during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent hazardously loud noises include the following:
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts have significant hazards to your hearing health. These events are, after all, intended to be quite loud.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach harmful volumes in your ears and this is even more relevant if you drive a convertible. This is especially true if the sound occurs for long periods without breaks.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, are often really loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are normally much quieter, though.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Unfortunately, fireworks are incredibly loud and can certainly cause damage to your hearing.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, particularly at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
Generally speaking, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. These sounds might not seem particularly loud so this is significant to note. But the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Every year, millions of people are impacted by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age. That’s why prevention is so important. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should regulate your exposure time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your ears. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply reducing the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recover. Damage will advance faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular enjoyable activities), you can get a set of good ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in locations that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. This can help prevent damage. You can be particularly benefited by making use of hearing protection costume designed for you.
- 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. Additional and more substantial damage can be prevented by giving your ears a chance to rest and recuperate.
- Get your hearing checked: In some cases, hearing loss creeps up on you really gradually. Many people won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Having your hearing checked can help you determine whether you have noise-related hearing loss. We’ll be able to go over how to counter additional damage, which treatment options may be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might 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 quickly start harming your hearing. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re a lot better than nothing! An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent considerable damage if you find yourself in a loud setting all of a sudden.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t inevitable. Prevention strategies can help preserve your hearing. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the proper strategy.
Consulting with us can help start your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!