Finally, it’s summertime!!
That means it’s time to go out and partake in all of the fun experiences that the season has to offer. But keep the health of your hearing in mind before you go out for a day on the beach, a rocking concert, or perhaps a great backyard barbecue.
Loud noises can harm your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re that loud. During the summer you’re a lot more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s really important to take the appropriate steps to protect your hearing.
One of the most important steps is utilizing earplugs, particularly under certain conditions.
Going for a swim
Even in clean pools, there can be parasites and bacteria that can lead to swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep your ears dry and stop infection.
While pool-borne infection is rarely serious, contaminated water getting into your ear canal can have unhealthy effects. It can lead to inflammation, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by neglected infections.
It’s not possible to completely avoid all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Attending a concert is always a good time, particularly in the summer months. Because the performers are attempting to reach such a large audience, however, volume levels are usually really high.
You may be exposed to over 120dB of sound depending on the spot that you’re standing. That’s enough to lead to instant and permanent hearing loss.
Earplugs are designed to decrease sound, not distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which identifies the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will reduce the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
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. Within 15 minutes, you can develop irreversible hearing damage even if you make use of the highest level of protection. For the best protection, stand a distance from the speakers and wear 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.
property maintenance
The grass is going to continue o grow so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you keep the long grass under control with a weed-whacker.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the volume level of yard equipment. Earplugs will help decrease the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your ears and it will become more apparent over time.
Independence Day
They’re a key part of Independence Day. When July comes around, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. The noise they produce can be in excess of 175 dB. If you shot a gun right next to your head it would be around this volume.
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re going to a large fireworks show. You should acquire the highest NRR rated earplugs, particularly if you’re close. You’ll still hear the fireworks and they’ll still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is extreme to get help. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it happens so gradually, most people don’t realize they’re damaging their hearing. Contact us right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.