The typical summer day is likely filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family reunions to fireworks to sporting events. The majority of these activities are perfectly safe and healthy, but there are some that do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm 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 show.
Over time, really loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. The result of this exposure is loss of hearing. This kind of hearing loss is irreversible.
Although this type of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be effectively treated. Raising your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better control risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can safeguard 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 really that loud during the summer?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise risks during the summer months. Here are some of the most prevalent and also most hazardous:
- Sporting events: Any time you’re in loud 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 lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have very loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are typically quite a bit quieter, though.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outdoor concerts. These events are, after all, meant to be quite loud.
- Driving: A Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you are exposed.
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are definitely loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is a great time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, tend to be really loud. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you use these tools.
Generally speaking, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. These sounds might not seem particularly loud so this is significant to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause 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. That’s why prevention is so essential. Some of the most effective prevention strategies include the following:
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss usually doesn’t happen suddenly. Many individuals won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Frequently, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to have your hearing checked. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular enjoyable activities), you can invest in a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you’re in locations that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. This can help prevent damage. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should limit your exposure time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your hearing. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter spot.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. This can give your ears more time to recover and prevent further and more substantial damage.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply decreasing the volume on your devices. Damage will advance faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing 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 significant hearing damage.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how rapidly sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone level. Even your earbuds and headphones can start to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-induced hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the proper strategy.
Talking to us can help start your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!
