Finally, it’s summertime!!
That means it’s time to get out and partake in all of the exciting activities that the season has to provide. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, remember to take care of your hearing.
When you’re out appreciating summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. In the summer you’re a lot more likely to be exposed to loud sounds, so it’s very important to take the right steps to safeguard your hearing.
Here are some activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Swimming
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can lead to swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep water out of your ears and stop infection.
While pool-borne infection is rarely serious, contaminated water getting inside of your ear canal can have unhealthy effects. Short-term hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the outcome.
Left unaddressed, infections can result in damage to the eardrum and the fragile inner workings of the ear.
If you are 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 wearing a pair of swimmers earplugs.
Concerts and live performances
Summer 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 off the charts.
You could be exposed to more than 120dB of sound depending on the spot that you’re standing. That’s enough to trigger instant and lasting hearing loss.
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. An NRR of 20 will lower the sound by 20 dB. So a 120-dB concert will be reduced to around 100 dB.
However, that’s still a potentially damaging level.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll require to protect your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Within 15 minutes, you can develop permanent hearing damage even if you use the highest level of protection. Use earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for optimum protection.
This doesn’t only pertain to concerts, it’s also relevant for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
Yard work
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be required pretty much weekly. You routinely edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking messy. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Your hearing will definitely be compromised by the volume level of yard equipment. Earplugs will help reduce the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re not wearing earplugs when you use the mower, over time, you will be noticeably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
They’re an essential aspect of Independence Day. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our country’s independence. But fireworks have a negative side. They can create up to 175dB of noise. If you shot a gun right near your head it would be around this volume.
If you’re going to a show in which the fireworks are booming and repeating, you’ll absolutely need earplugs. You should acquire the highest NRR rated earplugs, especially if you’re close. You’ll still hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your hearing from future hearing loss.
Safeguarding your hearing is important
Get help before your hearing loss becomes profound. Most individuals most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is slowly going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Get your hearing assessed routinely by us to identify your risk level.
