Practices to Prevent Noise-Related Hearing Loss
From sporting events to family get-togethers to fireworks displays to motorcycle rides, summer is filled with enjoyable activities. And while most of these activities are healthy, many can present hidden risks to your hearing health. That’s because loud noises, over time, can harm your ability to hear. A loud motorcycle engine or a roaring crowd could be causing long-term, noise-induced hearing loss.
Over time, extremely loud noises can trigger damage to your ears. The consequence of this exposure is loss of hearing. This kind of hearing loss has no cure.
There is no cure, but this form of hearing loss can be effectively controlled. Raising your awareness of these prevalent loud noises can help you better control risks and develop prevention strategies, so you can safeguard your hearing over the long run. With a few basic adjustments, you can enjoy your summer fun and protect your hearing health.
Is it actually that loud during the summer?
Summer might be one of those times of year where noise risks are easiest to miss. Some of the most prevalent dangerously loud noises include the following:
- Driving: If you’re driving with the windows down, the wind noise can reach harmful volumes in your ears and this is even more pertinent if you drive a convertible. This is especially true if the sound happens for long durations without breaks.
- Routine use of power tools: Summer is an excellent time for home improvement projects. But it’s important to remember that all of those power tools can be really noisy. Your hearing health is in increasing danger the more you utilize these tools.
- Fireworks events: Summer has lots of fireworks. They happen at holiday celebrations, sporting events, and impromptu neighborhood gatherings. But fireworks shows are definitely loud enough to trigger irreversible hearing damage.
- Loud concerts: Even outdoor concerts present significant risks to your hearing health. These events are, after all, intended to be really loud.
- Routine lawn care: This might include using lawnmowers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and weed wackers. The powerful motors in most of these mechanical tools are very loud. Motors that run on electricity rather than gas are normally much quieter, though.
- Sporting events: Crowd noise can harm your hearing, particularly at events such as auto racing or monster truck rallies.
In general, sounds louder than 85dB are considered to be damaging. This is about the volume of a lawnmower, hair dryer, or a typical blender. That’s important to be aware of because these sounds may not feel particularly noisy. But that doesn’t mean that such volumes won’t cause damage.
Preventing noise-induced hearing damage
Every year, millions of people are affected by hearing loss. And, unlike age-related hearing loss, noise-induced hearing loss can occur at any age. That’s why prevention is so essential. Some of the most successful prevention strategies include the following:
- Download a sound level detection app to your phone: You may be surprised at just how quickly sounds can escalate above that 85dB danger zone level. Even your earbuds and headphones can begin to do damage at these volume levels. You can become more aware of when volume levels begin to get too high by downloading a volume monitoring app for your cellphone.
- Wear hearing protection: If you can’t avoid noisy environments (or don’t want to miss out on particular enjoyable activities), you can get a set of quality ear muffs or ear plugs. Wear this hearing protection when you need to, when you are in situations that are loud. Damage can be avoided in this way. You can be especially benefited by making use of hearing protection costume made for you.
- Turn down the volume at home: Your ears can get a rest by simply reducing the volume on your devices. Damage will develop faster if you’re always listening to your devices at a high volume.
- Limit your time in noisy environments: The louder the environment, the more you should limit your time. Your ears can be protected from long-term damage in this way. If you’re at a loud sporting event, for example, walk to a quieter spot every thirty minutes or so.
- Use disposable earplugs when you have to: Disposable earplugs aren’t as effective as more customized types, but they’re far better than nothing! An inexpensive set of disposable earplugs can help prevent significant damage if you find yourself in a noisy setting all of a sudden.
- Get your hearing checked: Hearing loss typically doesn’t develop all of a sudden. It could take years to detect in many instances. Frequently, the only way to find out whether you have any noise-related hearing loss is to have your hearing examined. We will help you understand how to keep your hearing healthy for years to come and discuss treatment options for any hearing loss you may already have.
- Give your ears a break (and time to recover): If you went to a loud fireworks display, make sure your next day is a quiet one. Additional and more substantial damage can be avoided by giving your ears a chance to rest and recover.
Noise-related hearing loss is not inevitable. You’re hearing can be preserved by utilizing prevention strategies. With the right approach, you can enjoy all that summer, or any other season, has to offer and protect your hearing.
Start your journey towards better hearing by giving us a call for an appointment.