The typical summer day is usually filled with fun activities and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family reunions to fireworks to sporting events. Most of these activities are perfectly safe and healthy, but some do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage your ability to hear. 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 occurs when extremely loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. The result of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
There is no cure, but this form of hearing loss 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 simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is it actually that loud during the summer?
Summer may be one of those times of year where noise risks are easiest to miss. Here are a few of the most prevalent and also most hazardous:
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be really loud. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you utilize these tools.
- Fireworks events: Many towns 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. Unfortunately, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. It’s worth pointing out that totally electric motors are often quieter.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outdoor concerts. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, especially at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is incredibly popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you happen to be driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you’re exposed.
Generally speaking, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to be aware of because these sounds may not seem particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Each year, millions of people are affected by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-related hearing loss can happen at any age. That’s why prevention is so significant. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recover. Damage will advance faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. This can give your ears more time to recuperate and avoid further and more significant damage.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re far better than nothing! An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a noisy setting all of a sudden.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss normally doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Many individuals won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Often, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to get your hearing examined. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and talk about treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs handy in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid specific noisy situations. Use this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in environments that are loud. This can help prevent damage. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- 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 begin to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should regulate your time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your hearing. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, go and spend some time in a quieter spot.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t unavoidable. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the correct approach.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.