The average summer day is likely filled with fun activities and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family reunions to fireworks to sporting events. And while the majority 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. This hearing damage could be due to 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. As a result, you experience hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
Although this kind of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully treated. Raising your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better control risks and establish prevention strategies, so you can protect your hearing over the long run. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is it really that loud during the summer?
It can be really easy to miss noise risks during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in many of these mechanical tools are very loud. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are normally quite a bit quieter, though.
- Driving: Taking 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.
- 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.
- Fireworks events: Many places have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood parties to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. But fireworks shows are definitely loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be really loud. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you use these tools.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, particularly at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
In general, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be damaging. This is around the range of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds may not seem particularly loud so this is important to note. But the volume of these devices can cause hearing damage over time.
How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Every year, millions of people are affected by hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is significant for this exact reason. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a set of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid specific loud situations. When you are in locations that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. This can help you avoid damage. You can be particularly benefited by using hearing protection costume made for you.
- 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 increase above that minimum threshold. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. There are many dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you track ambient noise levels, so you can be more mindful of when your surroundings become dangerous to your hearing.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. Additional and more substantial damage can be prevented by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss creeps up on you really slowly. It could take years to notice in many instances. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to get your hearing examined. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as effective as more customized types, but they’re much better than nothing! An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a loud environment all of a sudden.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should limit your time. Your ears can be safeguarded from long-term damage in this way. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, walk to a quieter spot every thirty minutes or so.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply decreasing the volume on your devices. Damage will develop faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
Noise-induced hearing loss is not inevitable. You’re hearing can be maintained by making use of prevention strategies. With the right strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and safeguard your hearing.
Consulting with us can help begin your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!