Finally, it’s summer!!
This summer season offers a lot of fun. But before you go to the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, remember to take care of your hearing.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t think they’re that loud. So it’s essential to take steps to protect your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
One of the most important steps is using earplugs, particularly under certain conditions.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be parasites and bacteria that can result in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and stop infection.
Contaminated water getting into your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some negative consequences. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the consequence.
Left unaddressed, infections can result in damage to the eardrum and the fragile inner workings of the ear.
It’s not possible to completely stay away from all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the ideal time for an evening of live music. Because the performers are attempting to reach such a large audience, however, volume levels are often off the charts.
You may be exposed to over 120dB of volume depending on the spot that you’re standing. That’s enough to lead to instant and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are designed to decrease sound, not distort it. The amount of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be established by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. 20dB of sound will be blocked by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced 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 acquire the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for best protection.
This doesn’t just apply to concerts, it’s also relevant for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
Yard work
You do it every week, but the grass keeps growing. You regularly edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking like a mess. Then you keep the long grass under control with a weed-whacker.
Your hearing will certainly be compromised by the volume level of yard equipment. Earplugs will help reduce the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your ears and it will become more evident over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our country’s independence. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. They can produce up to 175dB of noise. If you fired a gun right next to your head it would be around this volume.
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a large fireworks show. You should acquire the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is extreme to get help. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it occurs so gradually, most people don’t recognize they’re damaging their hearing. Call us right away so we can help you identify any risks you might have.