From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with fun activities. And while most of these activities are healthy, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these activities can cause irreversible hearing damage. A loud motorcycle engine or the roar of a crowd could be contributing to long-term, noise-related hearing loss.
What is noise-induced hearing loss? This condition happens when excessively loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a result, you experience hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss is irreversible.
Even though this type of hearing loss has no cure, it can be effectively managed. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better control risks and establish 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 actually that loud during the summer?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise hazards during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach hazardous volumes in your ears and this is even more pertinent if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. They happen at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can damage your hearing, especially at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are great activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, tend to be quite loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
- 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.
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have very loud powerful motors. It’s worth noting that purely electric motors are often quieter.
The volume level that’s regarded as where damage begins to occur is around 85 dB. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to note because these sounds may not seem particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t result in damage.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Each year, millions of individuals are impacted by hearing loss. Noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so essential. Here are a few of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss usually doesn’t develop suddenly. Many people won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Getting your hearing checked can help you identify whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder 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.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply reducing the volume on your devices. When everything is loud all the time, damage can develop more quickly.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You might be surprised at just how quickly sounds can escalate above that 85dB danger zone volume. Even your earbuds and headphones can start to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels start to get too loud by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- 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! If you find yourself abruptly in a noisy environment, a cheap set of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. Additional and more substantial damage can be prevented by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
- 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 loud situations. Wear this hearing protection when you need to, when you are in situations that are loud. This can help prevent damage. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be maintained by making use of prevention strategies. With the right strategy, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and safeguard your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.