From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable activities. And while most of these activities are safe, many can present invisible risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can damage your ability to hear. 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 occurs when excessively loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. Noise-induced hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
Although this type of hearing loss has no cure, it can be effectively managed. Over the long run, you can safeguard your hearing and avoid damage by being aware of prevalent sources of loud noise and developing prevention strategies. You can safeguard the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by making use of a few basic adjustments.
Is summer actually that noisy?
It can be quite easy to overlook noise risks during the summer months. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Driving: 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 exponentially worse the longer you are exposed.
- Loud concerts: Even outside concerts present substantial hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Fireworks events: Many areas have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. From neighborhood parties to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Unfortunately, fireworks are extremely loud and can certainly cause damage to your ears.
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are ideal activities during the summer. But it’s crucial to keep in mind that all of those power tools can be really noisy. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
- Routine lawn care: Included in this category are chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are extremely loud. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are typically quite a bit quieter, though.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, particularly at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
In general, sounds above 85dB are considered to be damaging. This is around the volume of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. These sounds might not seem especially loud so this is important to note. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Noise-induced hearing loss impacts millions of people each year. Noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. That’s why prevention is so significant. 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 display, 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 recuperate.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really loud, you need to 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 spot.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how fast sounds can escalate above that 85dB danger zone volume. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more conscious of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t happen all of a sudden. Many individuals won’t notice the symptoms for months or years. Frequently, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to get your hearing examined. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment solutions for any hearing loss you might already have.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on particular fun activities), you can invest in a set of good ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in settings that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. This can help prevent damage. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply reducing the volume on your devices. When everything is loud all the time, damage can advance much faster.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as effective as more customized types, but they’re much better than nothing! If you find yourself abruptly in a noisy environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant hearing damage.
You don’t need to resign yourself to getting noise-induced hearing loss. You’re hearing can be preserved by making use of prevention strategies. You can protect your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the proper approach.
Start your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.