Finally, it’s summer!!
That means it’s time to go out and enjoy all the fun experiences that the season has to offer. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, don’t forget to take care of your hearing.
Loud noises can damage your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re very loud. During the summer you’re much more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s really important to take the appropriate steps to protect your hearing.
Here are a few activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Swimming
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in relatively 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 adverse consequences. It can lead to inflammation, pain, and even short-term hearing loss.
The eardrum and also the delicate inner workings of the ear can be damaged by neglected infections.
It’s not possible to totally stay away from all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but using swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Summertime is the ideal time for a night of live music. But live concerts are usually very loud.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you might be exposed to as much as 120dB of sound. That’s enough to lead to immediate and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs are designed to decrease sound, not distort it. The amount of sound that can be stopped by earplugs will be established by an NRR rating of between 20 and 33. An NRR of 20 will lower 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.
Protecting 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 exposed to sounds loud enough to trigger permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. For the best protection, stand far away from the speakers and use earplugs.
The same applies to indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, cook-outs, festivals, or other events where sounds are being boosted through speakers.
property maintenance
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking like a mess. Then you keep the long grass in check with a weed-whacker.
Power equipment and other yard equipment can be really loud, and prolonged exposure can and will harm your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by wearing earplugs.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your ears and it will become more evident over time.
Independence Day
They’re a key aspect of Independence Day. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our nation’s independence. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. The noise they make can be in excess of 175 dB. That’s as loud as a pistol being fired right beside your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re going to a large fireworks show. You should get the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll still hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
It’s important to safeguard your hearing
Get help before your hearing loss becomes profound. Hearing loss related to loud noise can’t be corrected and since it happens so slowly, most people don’t realize they’re harming their hearing. Have your hearing assessed routinely by us to identify your risk level.