Finally, it’s summer!!
This summer season offers tons of fun. But don’t forget about your hearing’s health before you head 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 a lot more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s really important to take the right steps to safeguard your hearing.
Here are some activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Swimming
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in fairly 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 inside of your ears, while usually not a serious problem, can have some negative repercussions. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the outcome.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
If you’re going into a hot tub or pool it will be impossible to avoid all germs and pathogens, but your ears can get a level of protection by using a set of swimmers earplugs.
Live performances and concerts
Summer is the best time for a night of live music. Because the performers are attempting to reach such a big audience, however, noise levels are usually off the charts.
You might be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on where you’re standing. These volume levels can immediately trigger hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are fashioned to decrease 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 if you’re at a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be lowered to 100dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially harm your hearing.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll need to safeguard your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Even if you get the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be subjected to sounds loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. Use earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for optimum protection.
This doesn’t just 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.
property maintenance
You do it each week, but the grass continues to grow. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking like a mess. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the loud volume of yard equipment. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your hearing and it will become more obvious over time.
Independence Day
They’re an essential aspect of Independence Day. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But there’s a negative side to fireworks. They can generate up to 175dB of noise. That’s the volume of a pistol being fired right beside your head!
If you’re going to a show in which the fireworks are thunderous and recurring, you’ll absolutely need earplugs. You should get 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 safeguarding your ears from future hearing loss.
Protecting your ears is important
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is profound to seek help. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it takes place so slowly, most people don’t realize they’re harming their hearing. Contact us right away so we can help you determine any risks you may have.