From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks shows to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable experiences. The majority of these activities are perfectly safe and healthy, but some do come with a risk of noise-related hearing loss. 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 causing long-term, noise-related hearing loss.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition happens when extremely loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
Even though this type of hearing loss can’t be cured, it can be successfully treated. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and formulate prevention strategies, so you can protect your hearing over the long run. With a few simple adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is summer really that noisy?
Summer may be one of those times of year where noise risks are easiest to miss. Some of the most common dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you may increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more relevant at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. From neighborhood gatherings to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks shows are everywhere during the summer months. Regrettably, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your hearing.
- 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 hard on your ears. And the risk becomes exponentially worse the longer you are exposed.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an ideal time for home improvement projects. But power tools, in general, tend to be quite loud. The more you utilize these tools, the more your hearing hazard increases.
- Routine lawn care: This could include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in many of these mechanical tools are extremely loud. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are typically quite a bit quieter, though.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outdoor concerts. After all, these events are planned to be as loud as possible.
The volume level that’s considered to be where damage begins to occur is about 85 dB. 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 that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
Preventing noise-related hearing damage
Each year, millions of individuals are affected by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can happen at any age. That’s why prevention is so important. Here are some of the most practical prevention strategies:
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you attended a loud fireworks show, make sure your next day is a quiet one. This can give your ears more time to recover and prevent further and more significant damage.
- Turn down the volume at home: Simply lowering 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 progress much faster.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on certain enjoyable activities), you can invest in a set of good ear muffs or ear plugs. When you are in settings that are too noisy, use this protection to your advantage. Damage can be avoided in this way. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be particularly effective.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: If your environment is really loud, you should regulate your exposure time. This can help protect against long-term damage to your hearing. If you’re at a noisy sporting event, for example, go to a quieter area every thirty minutes or so.
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would most likely be surprised how fast sounds can increase above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly start harming your ears. You can become more conscious of when volume levels start to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as reliable as more customized types, but they’re far better than nothing! If you find yourself abruptly in a loud environment, a cheap pair of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant hearing damage.
- Get your hearing checked: In some cases, hearing loss creeps up on you quite slowly. It could take years to detect in many cases. Often, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-induced hearing loss is to get your hearing checked. We will help you comprehend how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you might already have.
You don’t need to resign yourself to having noise-related hearing loss. You’re hearing can be preserved by making use of prevention strategies. With the proper approach, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and safeguard your hearing.
Begin your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.