The typical summer day is usually 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 invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these activities can cause irreversible hearing damage. This hearing damage could be due to anything from a roaring motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks show.
What is noise-related 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 has no cure.
Even though this kind of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be successfully managed. Raising your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. You can safeguard the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by making use of a few simple adjustments.
Is summer really that noisy?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent hazardously loud noises include the following:
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present substantial hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Driving: A Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you happen to be driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. This is especially true if the sound happens for long periods without breaks.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, particularly at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are easily loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. It’s worth pointing out that purely electric motors are usually quieter.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are ideal activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be really loud. The more you utilize these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage starts to occur is around 85 dB. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. These sounds might not seem especially loud so this is important to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Noise-induced hearing loss impacts millions of people every year. Noise-related hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this exact reason. Here are some of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you went to a loud fireworks display, make sure your next day is a quiet one. Additional and more significant damage can be avoided by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
- 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. Wear this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in situations 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.
- Get your hearing checked: In some cases, hearing loss creeps up on you quite gradually. Many individuals won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to get your hearing examined. We’ll be able to discuss how to avoid additional damage, which treatment solutions might be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how fast sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone volume. Even your earbuds and headphones can start to do damage at these volume levels. There are numerous reliable apps available for smartphones that can help you monitor ambient noise levels, so you can be more mindful of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
- 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 develop more rapidly if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- 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 set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant hearing damage.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should limit your time. This can help prevent 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 less noisy spot.
Noise-related hearing loss isn’t inevitable. You’re hearing can be preserved by utilizing prevention strategies. You can protect your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the right strategy.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.
