Summer has finally arrived!
This summer season has a lot of fun. 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 get-together.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re that loud. So it’s essential 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 a few activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be parasites and bacteria that can lead to swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
Polluted water getting inside of your ears, while normally not a serious issue, can have some unwanted repercussions. It can result in swelling, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
Left unaddressed, infections can cause damage to the eardrum and the delicate 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 some protection by wearing a set of swimmers earplugs.
Concerts and live performances
Summer is the best time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are typically very loud.
You may be exposed to more than 120dB of sound depending on where you’re standing. These volume levels can instantly trigger hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are designed to reduce sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which identifies 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.
Protecting your hearing will mean using a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. For the highest level of protection, stand far away from the speakers and use earplugs.
The same goes for indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, cook-outs, celebrations, or other events where sounds are being amplified through speakers.
Yard work
You do it every week, but the grass continues to grow. You take steps such as edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks nice. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Power equipment and other yard equipment can be very loud, and sustained exposure can and will damage your hearing. Earplugs will help decrease the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you aren’t wearing earplugs when you use the mower, over time, you will be observably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July comes around, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. They can create up to 175dB of noise. That’s as loud as a pistol being fired right next to your head!
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re going to a big fireworks show. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is advisable. You’ll still be able to hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
It’s important to safeguard your ears
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is significant to seek help. Most people probably won’t even realize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Call us right away so we can help you identify any risks you might have.
