The typical summer day is likely filled with fun experiences and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. And while most of these activities are safe, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm 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 display.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition occurs when extremely loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. The result of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is effectively permanent.
There is no cure, but this form of hearing loss can be effectively managed. Increasing your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better manage risks and establish 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 summer actually that noisy?
Summer might be one of those times of year where noise risks are easiest to miss. Some of the most common dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outside concerts. These events are, after all, intended to be quite loud.
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. From neighborhood get-togethers to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. But fireworks shows are easily loud enough to trigger permanent hearing damage.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re in loud crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, including a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Driving: A Sunday drive is incredibly popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. This is particularly true if the sound happens for long durations without breaks.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, are typically quite loud. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you utilize these tools.
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. These tools have very loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are normally quite a bit quieter, though.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage begins to occur is around 85 dB. 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 the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Each year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this precise reason. Here are a few of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing disposable earplugs might not be as reliable 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 went to a loud fireworks show, make sure your next day is a quiet one. This can give your ears more time to recover and prevent further and more substantial damage.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recuperate. Damage will advance more rapidly if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t happen suddenly. It could take years to notice in many circumstances. Getting your hearing examined can help you identify whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should regulate your exposure time. Your ears can be protected from long-term damage in this way. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would most likely be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more conscious of when volume levels start to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy environments (or don’t want to miss out on particular enjoyable activities), you can get a pair of good ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in environments that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-induced hearing loss. You’re hearing can be preserved by utilizing prevention strategies. You can protect your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the proper strategy.
Start your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.