Finally, it’s summer!!
This summer season has tons of fun. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or maybe an enjoyable backyard barbecue.
Loud noises can harm 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 safeguard your hearing.
One of the most significant steps is utilizing earplugs, particularly under certain conditions.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can result in swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some unwanted consequences. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the outcome.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s impossible to completely avoid all pathogens in pools or hot tubs, but using swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Summertime is the perfect time for an evening of live music. But live concerts are typically really loud.
Depending on the spot that you’re standing at the venue, you may be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). These volume levels can immediately cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs will block some of that sound but won’t distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which establishes the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So if you’re attending a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
Safeguarding your hearing will mean utilizing 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 trigger permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Use earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for best protection.
This doesn’t just pertain 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.
property maintenance
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You take steps like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks nice. Then you keep the long grass under control with a weed-whacker.
Power tools and other yard tools can be very loud, and sustained exposure can and will damage your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by wearing earplugs.
If you aren’t wearing earplugs when you use the mower, over time, you will be noticeably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our country. But there’s a dark side to fireworks. They can produce up to 175dB of noise. If you fired a gun right near your head it would be around this volume.
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a large fireworks show. You should get the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll safeguard your ears from damage and the fireworks will still sound loud enough.
Safeguarding your ears is important
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is severe to get help. Most people most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and regrettably, it’s irreversible. Contact us right away so we can help you identify any risks you might have.
