Finally, it’s summer!!
This summer season has a lot of fun. 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 think 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 right steps to protect your hearing.
Here are a few activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can lead to swimmer’s ear. You can prevent infections by keeping your ears dry and earplugs can help you do this.
While pool-borne illness is rarely serious, contaminated water getting into your ear canal can have harmful effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the result.
The eardrum and also the delicate inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
If you’re going into a hot tub or pool it won’t be possible to steer clear of all germs and pathogens, but your ears can get a level of protection by wearing a pair of swimmers earplugs.
Live performances and concerts
Summertime is the ideal time for an evening of live music. Because the entertainers are trying to reach such a big audience, however, volume levels are often really high.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you could be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). That’s enough to lead to immediate and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs will block some of that sound but won’t distort it. The degree of sound that can be blocked 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 a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer to the speaker you are, the higher NRR you’ll need to safeguard your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. 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 boosted through speakers.
Yard work
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be required pretty much weekly. You take measures like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Your hearing will definitely be damaged by the volume level of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be reduced and your ears can be protected by using earplugs.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your hearing and it will become more evident over time.
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. That’s as loud as a pistol being fired right next to your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re going to a large fireworks show. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll still hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is extreme to get help. Most individuals probably won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Get your hearing checked regularly by us to determine your risk level.