Summer has finally arrived!
This summer season offers a lot of fun. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, don’t forget to take care of your hearing.
When you’re out appreciating summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. So it’s essential to take steps to protect your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to experience loud noises.
Here are a few 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 water out of your ears and stop infection.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some negative repercussions. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the consequence.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by neglected infections.
It’s impossible to completely stay away from all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, 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 usually really loud.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you might be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). That’s enough to cause immediate and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not distort it. The level of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be determined by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. An NRR of 20 will reduce the sound by 20 dB. So if you’re at a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be lowered to 100dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer to the speaker you are, the higher NRR you’ll require to protect 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 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 boosted through speakers.
Yard work
You do it each week, but the grass keeps growing. You take steps such as edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you use a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Your hearing will certainly be compromised by the loud volume of yard equipment. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you aren’t using earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be observably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our nation’s independence. But fireworks have a negative side. They can generate up to 175dB of noise. If you shot a gun right next to your head it would be about this volume.
If you’re going to a show in which the fireworks are booming and recurring, you’ll definitely need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll protect your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Seek help before your hearing loss becomes severe. Most individuals most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and regrettably, it’s irreversible. Contact us right away so we can help you determine any risks you might have.