Summer is here!
That means it’s time to get out and partake in all of the exciting experiences that the season has to offer. But before you go to the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, remember to take care of your hearing.
When you’re out appreciating summer, don’t forget that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. So it’s important to take measures to protect 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 experienced with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in fairly clean pools potentially resulting in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and stop infection.
While pool-borne sickness is rarely serious, polluted water getting into your ear canal can have harmful effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the consequence.
Left untreated, infections can lead to damage to the eardrum and the delicate inner workings of the ear.
If you’re going into a hot tub or pool it will be impossible to avoid all germs and pathogens, but your ears can get some protection by wearing a pair of swimmers earplugs.
Concerts and live performances
Summer is the best time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are typically really loud.
You may be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on where you’re standing. These volume levels can instantly cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs will block some of that sound but won’t distort it. The degree of sound that can be stopped by earplugs will be determined by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be lowered to around 100 dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer to the speaker you are, the higher NRR you’ll require to safeguard your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be subjected to sounds loud enough to trigger irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. For the highest level of protection, stand a distance from the speakers and use earplugs.
The same applies to indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, barbecues, celebrations, or other events where sounds are being amplified through speakers.
property maintenance
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 messy. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Your hearing will certainly be damaged by the volume level of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by wearing earplugs.
If you aren’t wearing earplugs when you operate the mower, over time, you will be observably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the independence of our nation. But there’s a dark side to fireworks. They can create up to 175dB of noise. If you fired a gun right next to your head it would be about this volume.
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. You should get the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll safeguard your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is significant to get help. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it happens so gradually, most people don’t recognize they’re harming their hearing. Contact us right away so we can help you determine any risks you may have.