Summer has finally arrived!
That means it’s time to get out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to offer. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you head out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or maybe an enjoyable backyard barbecue.
When you’re out enjoying summer, don’t forget that your hearing can be harmed by loud noises. So it’s important to take steps to protect your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to experience loud noises.
One of the most important steps is utilizing earplugs, particularly under certain conditions.
Swimming
Parasites and bacteria love water and can even live in fairly clean pools potentially leading to swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping water out of your ears and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne illness isn’t usually serious, polluted water getting into your ear canal can have harmful effects. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the consequence.
Left untreated, infections can result in damage to the eardrum and the fragile inner workings of the ear.
If you’re going into a hot tub or pool it won’t be possible to steer clear of all germs and pathogens, but your ears can get a level of protection by wearing a pair of swimmers earplugs.
Concerts and live performances
Summertime is the ideal time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are typically really loud.
Depending on the spot that you’re standing at the venue, you could be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). That’s enough to trigger immediate and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are designed to decrease sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which identifies the strength of the protection. 20dB of sound will be stopped by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer to the speaker you are, the higher NRR you’ll need to protect your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Within 15 minutes, you can experience irreversible hearing damage even if you use the highest level of protection. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for best protection.
This doesn’t just apply to concerts, it’s also true for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
Yard work
You do it each week, but the grass keeps growing. You take measures such as edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks nice. Then you keep the long grass in check with a weed-whacker.
Power tools and other yard tools can be very loud, and prolonged exposure can and will damage your hearing. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re not using earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be noticeably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But there’s a dark side to fireworks. They can create up to 175dB of noise. That’s as loud as a gun being fired right next to your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re going to a large fireworks show. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is suggested. You’ll safeguard your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
It’s important to safeguard your ears
Get help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Most individuals most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, it’s irreversible. Contact us right away so we can help you determine any risks you might have.