Finally, it’s summer!!
That means it’s time to go out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to offer. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, remember to take care of your hearing.
When you’re out enjoying summer, don’t forget that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. During the summer you’re a lot more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s very important to take the right steps to protect your hearing.
Here are some activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be parasites and bacteria that can cause swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and prevent infection.
Contaminated water getting into your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some negative consequences. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the result.
Left unaddressed, infections can result in 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 using a set of swimmers earplugs.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the ideal time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are usually very loud.
You may be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on where you’re standing. That’s enough to trigger immediate and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs will stop some of that sound but won’t distort it. The amount of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be established by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. 20dB of sound will be blocked 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.
Protecting your hearing will mean using a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Within 15 minutes, you can experience irreversible hearing damage even if you use the highest level of protection. For the best protection, stand a distance from the speakers and wear earplugs.
This doesn’t only pertain 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.
property maintenance
You do it every week, but the grass continues to grow. You take steps such as 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 damage your hearing. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your ears and it will become more noticeable over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the independence of our country. But fireworks have a dark side. The noise they make can be in excess of 175 dB. If you fired a gun right near your head it would be about this volume.
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re attending a large fireworks show. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll still be able to hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
Safeguarding your ears is important
Seek help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Most individuals probably won’t even realize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and regrettably, there’s no cure. Contact us right away so we can help you identify any risks you might have.