The typical summer day is likely filled with fun experiences 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 hidden risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with some of these experiences can result in irreversible hearing damage. This hearing damage could be caused by anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks show.
Over time, really loud noises can cause damage to your ears. As a result, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
Even though this type of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully managed. Raising your awareness of these prevalent 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 utilizing a few simple adjustments.
Is summer really that noisy?
Summer might be one of those times of year in which noise hazards are easiest to miss. Some of the most common hazardously loud noises include the following:
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are perfect activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be quite loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday celebrations to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. Regrettably, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your hearing.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re in noisy crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outside concerts. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are incredibly loud. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are typically quite a bit quieter, though.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach damaging volumes in your ears and this is even more relevant if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you’re exposed.
In general, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be harmful. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to be aware of because these sounds may not seem particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t result in damage.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Noise-related hearing loss effects millions of people each year. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-related hearing loss can present at any age. Prevention is important for this exact reason. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how fast sounds can escalate above that 85dB danger zone volume. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can quickly start harming your ears. You can become more aware of when volume levels start to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some rest and a chance to recuperate. Damage will advance faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid loud situations (or don’t want to miss out on certain fun activities), you can invest in a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you’re in locations that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. This can help you avoid 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 need to regulate your exposure time. This can help prevent 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 quieter area.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Making use of disposable earplugs might not be as effective as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself abruptly in a loud environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant hearing damage.
- 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. Additional and more substantial damage can be avoided by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recuperate.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you really slowly. It could take years to notice in many circumstances. Getting your hearing examined can help you determine whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We’ll be able to go over how to avoid additional damage, which treatment solutions may be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
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 right strategy.
Start your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.