From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable activities. And while the majority of these activities are safe, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with some of these experiences can lead to irreversible hearing damage. A loud motorcycle engine or a roaring crowd could be contributing to long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition occurs when extremely loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. The result of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively permanent.
Even though this kind of hearing loss can’t be cured, it 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 protect the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by using a few basic adjustments.
Is summer really that noisy?
Summer may be one of those times of year in which noise risks are easiest to miss. Here are a few of the most common and also most dangerous:
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, especially at events like auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are normally much quieter, though.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are ideal activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, are often really loud. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you use these tools.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach harmful volumes in your ears and this is even more relevant if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you are exposed.
- Fireworks events: Many places have fireworks displays monthly or more during the summer. From neighborhood get-togethers to holiday celebrations to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. Regrettably, fireworks are extremely loud and can definitely cause damage to your ears.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outdoor concerts. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage begins to occur is around 85 dB. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to be aware of because these sounds might not feel particularly noisy. But the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Noise-induced hearing loss effects millions of individuals every year. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is significant for this precise reason. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- 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 significant damage.
- 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. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter area.
- 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. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can quickly begin damaging your hearing. You can become more conscious of when volume levels begin to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- 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.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss creeps up on you very slowly. It could take years to notice in many instances. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to get your hearing checked. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment solutions for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid loud situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular fun activities), you can get a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in environments that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re a lot better than nothing! An inexpensive pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent considerable damage if you find yourself in a noisy setting all of a sudden.
Noise-induced hearing loss is not unavoidable. Prevention strategies can help maintain your hearing. With the proper strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Consulting with us can help begin your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!