Summer has finally arrived!
That means it’s time to get out and enjoy all the exciting experiences that the season has to provide. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, don’t forget to protect your hearing.
When you’re out enjoying summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be harmed by loud noises. During the summer you’re much more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s really important to take the right steps to safeguard your hearing.
One of the most important steps is using earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can lead to swimmer’s ear. You can prevent infections by keeping water out of your ears and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne illness is rarely serious, polluted water getting into your ear canal can have harmful effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the outcome.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s not possible to completely avoid all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, but using swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Live performances and concerts
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 volume depending on where you’re standing. That’s enough to cause immediate and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which establishes the strength of the protection. 20dB of sound will be stopped by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So if you’re attending a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially harm your hearing.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll require to safeguard your ears and prevent permanent hearing damage. Within 15 minutes, you can experience irreversible hearing damage even if you make use of the highest level of protection. For the best protection, stand a distance from the speakers and wear earplugs.
This doesn’t only 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 take measures like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you keep the long grass in check with a weed-whacker.
Power tools and other yard equipment can be really loud, and prolonged exposure can and will harm your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by using earplugs.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your hearing and it will become more obvious over time.
Independence Day
They’re a key aspect of Independence Day. 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. That’s as loud as a pistol being discharged right next to your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re going to a large fireworks show. You should get the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
It’s important to safeguard your hearing
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 slowly, most people don’t recognize they’re harming their hearing. Contact us right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.
