Summer is here!
That means it’s time to go out and enjoy all the fun activities that the season has to provide. But keep the health of your hearing in mind before you head out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or maybe a great backyard get-together.
When you’re out appreciating summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. So it’s essential to take measures to safeguard your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
One of the most important steps is utilizing earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Going for a swim
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in relatively clean pools potentially leading to swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep water out of your ears and prevent infection.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while normally not a serious issue, can have some unwanted consequences. It can lead to swelling, pain, and even short-term hearing loss.
Left unaddressed, infections can cause damage to the eardrum and the fragile inner workings of the ear.
It’s not possible to totally avoid all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, but using swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the ideal time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are typically really loud.
You might be exposed to over 120dB of volume depending on the spot that you’re standing. These volume levels can instantly trigger hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are designed to reduce sound, not distort it. The degree of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be identified by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. An NRR of 20 will reduce the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be lowered to around 100 dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially harm your hearing.
Safeguarding your hearing will mean using a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. For the best protection, stand a distance from the speakers and wear earplugs.
The same applies to indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, barbecues, festivals, or other events where sounds are being amplified through speakers.
property maintenance
You do it each week, but the grass keeps growing. You regularly edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the loud volume of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by wearing earplugs.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your hearing and it will become more noticeable over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the independence of our country. But fireworks have a negative side. The noise they make can exceed 175 dB. That’s the volume of a gun being discharged right beside your head!
If you’re attending a show in which the fireworks are booming and recurring, you’ll definitely need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is suggested. You’ll still be able to hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be safeguarding your hearing from future hearing loss.
It’s important to safeguard your ears
Seek help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Hearing loss related to loud noise can’t be corrected and since it happens so gradually, most people don’t recognize they’re damaging their hearing. Contact us right away so we can help you determine any risks you may have.