Summer has finally arrived!
That means it’s time to get out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to provide. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you head out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or perhaps a great backyard barbecue.
When you’re out enjoying summer, remember that your hearing can be harmed 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 appropriate steps to safeguard your hearing.
Here are a few activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Swimming
Parasites and bacteria love water and can even live in fairly clean pools potentially leading to swimmer’s ear. You can prevent infections by keeping water out of your ears and earplugs can help you do this.
Polluted water getting into your ears, while normally not a serious problem, can have some unwanted consequences. It can cause inflammation, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
Left untreated, infections can lead to damage to the eardrum and the delicate inner workings of the ear.
It’s impossible to totally stay away from all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Going to a concert is always fun, particularly during the summer. But live concerts are typically really loud.
You may be exposed to over 120dB of sound depending on where you’re standing. That’s enough to trigger 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 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 lowered to around 100 dB.
However, that’s still a potentially damaging level.
The closer to the speaker you are, the higher NRR you’ll require to protect your ears and prevent permanent hearing damage. Even if you acquire the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to trigger permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for best protection.
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 each week, but the grass continues to grow. You take steps like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you keep the long grass under control with a weed-whacker.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the loud volume of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be protected by using earplugs.
If you’re not using earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be noticeably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
They’re an essential aspect of Independence Day. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our nation’s independence. But fireworks have a dark side. They can generate up to 175dB of noise. If you shot a gun right near your head it would be about this volume.
If you’re attending a display in which the fireworks are thunderous and repeating, you’ll certainly need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is suggested. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Get help before your hearing loss becomes profound. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it takes place so slowly, most people don’t recognize they’re damaging their hearing. Call us right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.