From sporting events to family gatherings to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable activities. And while most of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage 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 show.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition happens when excessively loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
There is no cure, though this form of hearing loss can be successfully managed. Increasing your awareness of these common loud noises can help you better control risks and develop 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 it actually that loud during the summer?
Summer may be one of those times of year where noise hazards are easiest to overlook. Some of the most common dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your hearing.
- Driving: A Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you are exposed.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present substantial hazards to your hearing health. These events are, after all, intended to be quite loud.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, particularly at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But it’s important to keep in mind that all of those power tools can be rather noisy. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. These tools have very loud powerful motors. It’s worth noting that totally electric motors are usually quieter.
Generally speaking, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. This is around the volume of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds may not seem especially loud so this is significant to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Every year, millions of individuals are impacted by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can happen 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:
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Making use of disposable earplugs may not be as effective as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a noisy setting all of a sudden.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would probably be surprised how fast sounds can increase above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can quickly begin damaging your ears. There are many dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you track ambient noise levels, so you can be more aware of when your surroundings become dangerous to your hearing.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you need to limit your exposure time. Your ears can be protected from long-term damage in this way. If you’re at a loud sporting event, for instance, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular fun activities), you can get a set of good ear muffs or ear plugs. Use this hearing protection when 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.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply turning down the volume on your devices. When everything is loud all the time, damage can advance more quickly.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. Additional and more significant damage can be prevented by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you very slowly. It could take years to detect in many cases. Frequently, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to have your hearing examined. 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.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. With the proper strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.