Finally, it’s summer!!
That means it’s time to go out and enjoy all the fun experiences that the season has to offer. But keep the health of your hearing in mind before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or perhaps an enjoyable backyard barbecue.
When you’re out enjoying summer, remember that your hearing can be harmed by loud noises. So it’s important to take measures to safeguard your ears, especially during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
Here are several activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can result in swimmer’s ear. You can prevent infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne sickness is rarely serious, contaminated water getting inside of your ear canal can have harmful effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the consequence.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s impossible to totally stay away from all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, but wearing swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Summertime is the perfect time for a night of live music. But live concerts are typically really loud.
You could be exposed to over 120dB of sound depending on the spot that you’re standing. That’s enough to cause instant and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which determines the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will reduce the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be lowered to around 100 dB.
However, that’s still a potentially damaging level.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll require to safeguard your ears and prevent permanent hearing damage. Within 15 minutes, you can develop permanent hearing damage even if you make use of the highest level of protection. For the highest level of protection, stand far away from the speakers and wear earplugs.
The same applies to indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, barbecues, festivals, or other events where sounds are being amplified through speakers.
Yard work
You do it each week, but the grass continues to grow. You regularly edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you keep the long grass in check with a weed-whacker.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the loud volume of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be protected by wearing earplugs.
If you aren’t wearing earplugs when you operate the mower, over time, you will be noticeably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
They’re an essential aspect of Independence Day. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our nation’s independence. But fireworks have a negative side. The noise they create can exceed 175 dB. If you fired a gun right near your head it would be around this volume.
If you’re going to a show where the fireworks are booming and recurring, you’ll certainly need earplugs. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll protect your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
Protecting your hearing is important
Get help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be corrected and since it takes place so slowly, most people don’t recognize they’re harming their hearing. Call us right away so we can help you identify any risks you might have.