From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable experiences. And while the majority of these activities are safe, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm your ability to hear. A loud motorcycle engine or the roar of a crowd could be contributing to long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
What is noise-induced hearing loss? This condition happens when overly loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively permanent.
There is no cure, but this type of hearing loss can be successfully controlled. Over the long run, you can safeguard your hearing and prevent damage by being aware of prevalent sources of loud noise and formulating prevention strategies. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is it actually that loud during the summer?
It can be quite easy to miss noise risks during the summer months. Here are a few of the most common and also most harmful:
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are normally much quieter, though.
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is incredibly popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Loud concerts: Even outside concerts have significant hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an ideal time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, are often really loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, especially at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays monthly or more during the summer. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Regrettably, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage starts to happen is around 85 dB. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to take note of because these sounds might not feel particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is significant for this precise reason. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- 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. Additional and more substantial damage can be prevented by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recuperate.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or aren’t willing to avoid specific loud situations. When you’re in locations that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. You can be especially benefited by using hearing protection costume made for you.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply reducing 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.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should 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 loud sporting event, for example, 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 most likely 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. You can become more conscious of when volume levels start to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Making use of disposable earplugs may not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself abruptly in a noisy environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss sneaks up on you really gradually. Many people won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Having your hearing checked can help you determine whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-induced hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by making use of prevention strategies. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the right approach.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.
