From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable experiences. And while most of these activities are safe, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. 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.
What is noise-induced hearing loss? This condition occurs when extremely loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. This kind of hearing loss is irreversible.
There is no cure, but this type of hearing loss can be successfully managed. Increasing your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better manage risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is it really that loud during the summer?
It can be quite easy to miss noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most common dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. It’s worth pointing out that totally electric motors are often quieter.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present considerable hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an excellent time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, are often quite loud. The more you utilize these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach damaging volumes in your ears and this is even more significant if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you are exposed.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, particularly at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. But fireworks shows are easily loud enough to trigger irreversible hearing damage.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage begins to occur is about 85 dB. This is around the volume of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds may 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?
Noise-induced hearing loss impacts millions of people each year. Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so important. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs handy in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid specific noisy situations. Use this hearing protection when you need to, when you are in environments that are loud. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply lowering the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some rest and a chance to recuperate. When everything is loud all the time, damage can develop much faster.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Using disposable earplugs might not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent considerable damage if you find yourself in a noisy setting all of a sudden.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you need to limit your exposure time. This can help avoid long-term damage to your hearing. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter area.
- 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 escalate above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can quickly start harming your ears. There are numerous dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you track ambient noise levels, so you can be more mindful of when your surroundings become harmful 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 significant damage can be prevented by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recover.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss normally doesn’t happen suddenly. It could take years to detect in many circumstances. Having your hearing examined can help you determine whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment solutions for any hearing loss you may already have.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. You can protect 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.