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 healthy, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these experiences can result in irreversible hearing damage. This hearing damage could be the result of anything from a roaring motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks show.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition happens when extremely loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively permanent.
Although this kind of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be successfully managed. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better control risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. With a few basic adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is summer really that noisy?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Here are some of the most prevalent and also most harmful:
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outside concerts. These events are, after all, intended to be really loud.
- 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 hard on your ears. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, especially at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood get-togethers to holiday celebrations to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that all of those power tools can be rather noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you utilize these tools.
- 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 normally much quieter, though.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage starts to happen is about 85 dB. This is around the range of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds might not seem especially loud so this is significant to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t result in damage.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Every year, millions of people are affected by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so significant. Here are a few of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. Additional and more substantial damage can be prevented by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply reducing the volume on your devices. When everything is loud all the time, damage can progress much faster.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you very gradually. It could take years to detect in many instances. Getting your hearing checked can help you identify whether you have noise-related hearing loss. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should limit your time. This can help protect against long-term damage to your ears. If you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, walk to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as effective as more customized types, but they’re a lot better than nothing! If you find yourself suddenly in a noisy environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on certain enjoyable activities), you can invest in a pair of good ear muffs or ear plugs. When you’re in environments that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. You can be particularly benefited by using hearing protection costume designed for you.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB may not seem like a lot, but you would probably be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. Even your earbuds and headphones can start to do damage at these volume levels. There are many reliable apps available for smartphones that can help you monitor ambient noise levels, so you can be more aware of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t unavoidable. Prevention strategies can help preserve your hearing. You can protect your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the correct approach.
Start your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.
