Summer is here!
That means it’s time to go out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to provide. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or perhaps a great backyard get-together.
When you’re out enjoying summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. So it’s essential to take steps to protect 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 using earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can lead to swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and stop infection.
Contaminated water getting into your ears, while normally not a serious problem, can have some negative consequences. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the result.
Left untreated, infections can lead to damage to the eardrum and the delicate inner workings of the ear.
If you’re going into a hot tub or pool it won’t be possible to avoid all germs and pathogens, but your ears can get some protection by wearing a set of swimmers earplugs.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the best time for a night of live music. But live concerts are typically very loud.
You could be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on where you’re standing. That’s enough to trigger immediate and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which establishes the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
Protecting your hearing will mean utilizing 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 subjected 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
The grass is going to keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much every week. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you use a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Power tools and other yard equipment can be very loud, and sustained exposure can and will harm your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be protected by wearing earplugs.
If you’re not using earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be observably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our country’s independence. But there’s a dark side to fireworks. They can create up to 175dB of noise. That’s the volume of a pistol being discharged right next to your head!
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. You should acquire the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll protect your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
It’s important to safeguard your hearing
Get help before your hearing loss becomes extreme. Most people most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Have your hearing checked regularly by us to identify your risk level.
