Finally, it’s summertime!!
This summer season has a lot 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 perhaps an enjoyable backyard get-together.
When you’re out enjoying summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be harmed by loud noises. In the summer you’re much more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s very important to take the right steps to safeguard your hearing.
Here are a few activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Parasites and bacteria 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 prevent infection.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious problem, can have some unwanted consequences. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the consequence.
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 hot tubs or pools, but using swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Summer is the best time for a night of live music. Because the performers are trying to reach such a big audience, however, volume levels are usually off the charts.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you could be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). These volume levels can immediately trigger hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which establishes the strength of the protection. 20dB of sound will be stopped by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
However, that’s still a potentially harmful 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 get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for optimum protection.
The same applies to indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, barbecues, festivals, or other events where sounds are being boosted through speakers.
Yard work
The grass is going to continue o grow so mowing will be necessary pretty much every week. 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 equipment and other yard tools can be really loud, and prolonged 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 not using earplugs when you run the mower, over time, you will be noticeably causing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July comes around, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But fireworks have a negative side. They can produce up to 175dB of noise. If you shot a gun right near your head it would be around this volume.
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is suggested. You’ll safeguard your hearing 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 seek help. Most people probably won’t even recognize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Give us a call right away so we can help you determine any risks you may have.