From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable experiences. And while most of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. Over time, the loud noises that accompany some of these experiences can result in irreversible hearing damage. A loud motorcycle engine or a roaring crowd could be causing long-term, noise-related hearing loss.
What is noise-related hearing loss? This condition occurs when excessively loud noises, over time, cause damage to your hearing. As a consequence, you experience hearing loss. Noise-related hearing loss is effectively irreversible.
Although this kind of hearing loss has no cure, it can be successfully treated. Increasing your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better manage risks and develop prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. You can protect the health of your hearing while still enjoying summer fun by utilizing a few simple adjustments.
Is it actually that loud during the summer?
It can be really easy to miss noise risks during the summer months. Here are some of the most prevalent and also most dangerous:
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an excellent time for home improvement projects. But it’s crucial to remember that all of those power tools can be rather noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing risk the more you use these tools.
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach hazardous volumes in your ears and this is even more relevant if you drive a convertible. And the risk becomes dramatically worse the longer you’re exposed.
- Fireworks events: Summer is full of fireworks. From neighborhood get-togethers to holiday festivities to sporting events, fireworks displays are everywhere during the summer months. Regrettably, fireworks are incredibly loud and can definitely cause damage to your ears.
- Loud concerts: Concerts put your hearing at risk even if they are outdoor concerts. These events are, after all, meant to be quite loud.
- Routine lawn care: This may include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are extremely loud. Motors that run on electricity instead of gas are typically much quieter, though.
- Sporting events: Any time you’re around noisy crowds, you could increase your risk of noise damage (this can be even more prevalent at sporting events that feature motorized attractions, such as a Nascar race or monster truck rally).
Generally speaking, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be harmful. The average hair dryer, blender, or lawnmower is about this volume. These sounds may not seem especially loud so this is important to note. But the volume of these devices can cause hearing damage over time.
How can I prevent noise-induced hearing loss?
Noise-induced hearing loss impacts millions of individuals every year. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age, unlike age-related hearing loss. Prevention is significant for this exact reason. Here are a few of the most helpful prevention strategies:
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: 85 dB might not seem like a lot, but you would probably be surprised how fast sounds can escalate above that minimum threshold. At these volume levels, even your headphones or earbuds can rapidly start harming your hearing. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Wear hearing protection: If you cannot avoid noisy situations (or don’t want to miss out on certain fun activities), you can invest in a pair of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. Wear this hearing protection whenever you need to, when you are in environments that are loud. This can help you avoid damage. Custom hearing protection devices tailored to your ears and your hearing can be especially effective.
- Get your hearing checked: Sometimes, hearing loss creeps up on you quite slowly. Many individuals won’t detect the symptoms for months or years. Often, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to get your hearing examined. We’ll be able to go over how to counter additional damage, which treatment options may be appropriate, and how to keep your hearing as healthy as possible for as long as possible.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a break by simply lowering the volume on your devices. Damage will develop faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a loud volume.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Utilizing disposable earplugs might not be as effective as customized earplugs but, in a pinch, they’re better than no protection at all. If you find yourself abruptly in a loud environment, a cheap set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant hearing damage.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): Spend a quieter next day after going to a fireworks display. This can give your ears more time to recover and prevent further and more substantial damage.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder the environment, the more you should limit your time. This can help prevent long-term damage to your hearing. Every thirty minutes or so, when you’re at a loud sporting event, for example, go and spend some time in a quieter spot.
Noise-induced hearing loss isn’t unavoidable. Prevention strategies can help maintain your hearing. You can safeguard your hearing and enjoy fun activities in any season with the correct strategy.
Talking to us can help begin your journey towards healthier ears and better hearing. Call today for an appointment!