From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable experiences. And while most of these activities are safe, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm your ability to hear. A loud motorcycle engine or the roar of a crowd could be contributing to long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
What is noise-induced hearing loss? This condition occurs when excessively loud noises, over time, trigger damage to your hearing. As a result, you experience hearing loss. This type of hearing loss is irreversible.
There is no cure, though this type of hearing loss can be successfully controlled. Over the long run, you can safeguard your hearing and prevent damage by being aware of common sources of loud noise and developing prevention strategies. You can safeguard the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by utilizing a few simple adjustments.
Is summer actually that noisy?
Summer might be one of those times of year in which noise hazards are easiest to miss. Here are some of the most common and also most hazardous:
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they’re outside concerts. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have really loud powerful motors. It’s worth noting that purely electric motors are usually quieter.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, including a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Routine use of power tools: Home improvement projects are ideal activities during the summer. But power tools, in general, are typically quite loud. The more you use these tools, the more your hearing risk increases.
- Driving: A Sunday drive is incredibly popular, but the wind rushing through your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be hard on your ears. This is particularly true if the sound happens for long intervals without breaks.
- Fireworks events: Many areas have fireworks displays every month or more during the summer. They take place at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. Regrettably, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
In general, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be damaging. A typical hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. These sounds may not seem particularly loud so this is significant to note. But the volume of these devices can cause hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
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 exact reason. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how fast sounds can increase above that 85dB danger zone level. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly begin damaging your hearing. There are many dependable apps available for smartphones that can help you track ambient noise levels, so you can be more aware of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. Additional and more significant damage can be avoided by giving your ears a chance to rest and recuperate.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply reducing the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some quiet and a chance to recover. When everything is loud all the time, damage can develop much faster.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder the environment, the more you should limit your time. This can help protect against long-term damage to your hearing. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for instance, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Wear hearing protection: Keep a pair of ear plugs or ear muffs on hand in case you can’t or aren’t willing to avoid certain loud situations. When you are in settings that are too loud, use this protection to your advantage. This can help you avoid damage. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- 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 get your hearing checked. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing disposable earplugs might not be as reliable as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself suddenly in a noisy environment, a cheap set of disposable earplugs can help prevent substantial hearing damage.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t unavoidable. You’re hearing can be maintained by using prevention strategies. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the right approach.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.
