The typical summer day is usually filled with fun activities and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. 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. This hearing damage could be due to anything from the roar of a motorcycle engine to the booms of a fireworks display.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition occurs when excessively loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively permanent.
There is no cure, though this form of hearing loss can be effectively controlled. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and develop prevention strategies, so you can protect your hearing over the long run. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is it really that loud during the summer?
It can be very easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most common dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Fireworks events: Many places have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood get-togethers to holiday celebrations to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your ears.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re in loud crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you happen to be driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you are exposed.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But it’s significant to remember that all of those power tools can be quite noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you use these tools.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. It’s worth noting that entirely electric motors are often quieter.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts have considerable risks to your hearing health. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
Generally speaking, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is about this volume. These sounds may not seem especially loud so this is significant to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t result in damage.
How can I prevent noise-related hearing loss?
Each year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is important for this precise reason. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss usually doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Many people won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Frequently, the only way to determine whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to have your hearing examined. We’ll be able to talk about how to prevent further damage, which treatment options might be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- 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 significant damage can be prevented by giving your ears an opportunity to rest and recover.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The more noisy the environment, the more you should limit your time. This can help protect against long-term damage to your ears. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, go and spend some time in a less noisy area.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or are not willing to avoid certain noisy situations. When you are in settings 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.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply turning down the volume on your devices. Damage will develop more rapidly if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re much better than nothing! An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a loud 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 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. There are numerous reliable 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.
Noise-related hearing loss isn’t inevitable. You’re hearing can be maintained by utilizing prevention strategies. You can protect 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.
