Summer is here!
This summer season offers a lot of fun. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, remember to protect your hearing.
Loud noises can harm your hearing, even if you don’t think 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 several activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Swimming
Parasites and bacteria love water and can even live in fairly clean pools potentially leading to swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne sickness isn’t usually serious, contaminated water getting inside of your ear canal can have unhealthy effects. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the outcome.
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 using swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Going to a concert is always fun, particularly in the summer months. But live concerts are usually very loud.
You may be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on where you’re standing. These volume levels can immediately cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs will stop some of that sound but won’t distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which establishes the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So if you’re attending a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially harm your hearing.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll require to protect your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Even if you acquire the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for best protection.
This doesn’t only pertain to concerts, it’s also true for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be boosted through speakers.
Yard work
The grass is going to keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much every week. You regularly edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
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 safeguarded by using earplugs.
If you aren’t using earplugs when you use the mower, over time, you will be observably 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 dark side. They can create up to 175dB of noise. That’s the volume of a pistol being fired right next to your head!
If you’re attending a display in which the fireworks are thunderous and repeating, you’ll certainly need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll protect your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
Safeguarding your ears is important
Seek help before your hearing loss becomes profound. Hearing loss related to loud noise can’t be reversed and since it takes place so gradually, most people don’t realize they’re damaging their hearing. Give us a call right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.