The typical summer day is likely filled with fun activities and happenings, from motorcycle rides to family outings to fireworks to sporting events. And while most of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that come with 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-induced hearing loss.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition happens when overly loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. This type of hearing loss has no cure.
Although this type of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be effectively treated. 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. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and safeguard your hearing health.
Is summer actually that noisy?
Summer may be one of those times of year in which noise risks are easiest to miss. Here are a few of the most prevalent and also most harmful:
- Fireworks events: Many towns have fireworks displays monthly or more during the summer. From neighborhood parties to holiday celebrations to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. But fireworks shows are easily loud enough to trigger irreversible hearing damage.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re in 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).
- Loud concerts: Even outside concerts have significant hazards to your hearing health. After all, these events are designed to be as loud as possible.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an excellent time for home improvement projects. But it’s important to remember that all of those power tools can be really noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you use these tools.
- Routine lawn care: This category includes chainsaws, weed wackers, leaf blowers, and lawnmowers. These tools have extremely loud powerful motors. It’s worth pointing out that purely electric motors are usually quieter.
- Driving: Going for a Sunday drive is very popular, but the wind rushing into your windows (or all around you if you’re driving a convertible) can be tough on your ears. This is particularly true if the sound happens for long intervals without breaks.
Generally speaking, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be harmful. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is around this volume. That’s important to note because these sounds might not feel particularly noisy. But the volume of these devices can result in hearing damage over time.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Noise-related hearing loss impacts millions of individuals every year. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age. Prevention is significant for this precise reason. Here are some of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- 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 specific loud situations. Wear this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in situations that are noisy. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices personalized to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after attending a fireworks display. This can give your ears more time to recover and avoid further and more substantial damage.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t develop all of a sudden. Many individuals won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Getting your hearing checked can help you determine whether you have noise-induced hearing loss. We’ll be able to go over how to prevent further damage, which treatment options may be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply turning down the volume on your TV and music playing devices can help give your ears some rest and a chance to recuperate. When everything is loud all the time, damage can develop more quickly.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would probably be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly start harming your hearing. There are many reliable apps available for smartphones that can help you monitor ambient noise levels, so you can be more aware of when your surroundings become harmful to your hearing.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really noisy, you should limit your exposure time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your ears. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a loud sporting event, for example, go and spend some time in a less noisy spot.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re much better than nothing! An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a loud setting all of a sudden.
You don’t need to resign yourself to getting noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be preserved by utilizing prevention strategies. With the right approach, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by contacting us for an appointment.