Finally, it’s summer!!
That means it’s time to go out and enjoy all 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.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re that loud. 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.
One of the most significant steps is using earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Swimming
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in relatively clean pools potentially resulting in swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne infection 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 consequence.
Left untreated, infections can cause 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 using swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the best time for a night of live music. Because the performers are trying to reach such a large audience, however, volume levels are usually off the charts.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you may be exposed to as much as 120dB of sound. These volume levels can instantly cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are designed to decrease sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which determines the strength of the protection. 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.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer you are to a speaker, 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 exposed to sounds loud enough to trigger permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Use earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for optimum protection.
This doesn’t just apply to concerts, it’s also true for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
property maintenance
The grass is going to continue o grow so mowing will be required pretty much every week. You take steps like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you use a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Your hearing will certainly be compromised by the volume level of yard equipment. Earplugs will help reduce the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you’re not wearing earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be observably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
They’re a key aspect of Independence Day. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But fireworks have a dark side. The noise they produce can exceed 175 dB. That’s the volume of a gun being discharged right beside your head!
If you’re attending a show in which the fireworks are booming and repeating, you’ll certainly need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is advisable. You’ll safeguard your ears from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
It’s important to protect your ears
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is severe to get help. Most people most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and regrettably, it’s irreversible. Get your hearing assessed routinely by us to identify your risk level.