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 offer. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or maybe a great backyard barbecue.
Loud noises can harm your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re that loud. In 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.
One of the most significant steps is using earplugs, especially under certain conditions.
Going for a swim
Parasites and bacteria love water and can even live in relatively clean pools potentially resulting in swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping water out of your ears and earplugs can help you do this.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some unwanted repercussions. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the outcome.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s not possible to totally avoid all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Going to a concert is always a good time, especially in the summer months. Because the entertainers are attempting to reach such a big audience, however, volume levels are often really high.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you may be exposed to as much as 120dB of sound. That’s enough to trigger instant and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are fashioned to decrease sound, not distort it. The amount of sound that can be blocked by earplugs will be determined by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. 20dB of sound will be stopped by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So if you’re at a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
However, that’s still a potentially harmful level.
Safeguarding your hearing will mean using a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be subjected to sounds loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. For the best protection, stand a distance from the speakers and use earplugs.
This doesn’t only 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.
Yard work
You do it every 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 touch up around the trees.
Power equipment and other yard tools can be really loud, and sustained exposure can and will damage your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be reduced and your ears can be safeguarded by using earplugs.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your hearing and it will become more noticeable over time.
Independence Day
They’re a key aspect of Independence Day. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our country’s independence. But fireworks have a dark side. The noise they produce can exceed 175 dB. That’s the volume of a gun being discharged right next to your head!
If you’re going to a show in which the fireworks are thunderous and recurring, you’ll absolutely need earplugs. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll safeguard your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Get help before your hearing loss becomes extreme. Most people most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and regrettably, there’s no cure. Get your hearing checked routinely by us to identify your risk level.