Summer has finally arrived!
That means it’s time to go out and partake in all of the fun activities that the season has to offer. But before you hit the beach, the concert, or the backyard barbecue, don’t forget to take care of your hearing.
When you’re out enjoying summer, do keep in mind that your hearing can be damaged by loud noises. So it’s essential to take steps to protect your ears, especially during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
Here are a few activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Parasites and bacteria 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.
Contaminated water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious problem, can have some negative consequences. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and swelling can be the consequence.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s not possible to totally avoid all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but wearing swimming earplugs will help protect your ears.
Concerts and live performances
Going to a concert is always fun, especially during the summer. Because the entertainers are trying to reach such a big audience, however, noise levels are often off the charts.
Depending on the spot that you’re standing at the venue, you may be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). That’s enough to trigger instant and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs will stop some of that sound but won’t distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which determines the strength of the protection. 20dB of sound will be blocked by earplugs with a 20 NRR rating. 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. Even if you acquire the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be exposed to sounds loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. Wear earplugs and stand well away from the speakers for optimum protection.
The same goes for indoor concerts, sporting events, plays, movies, cook-outs, celebrations, or other events where sounds are being boosted through speakers.
property maintenance
The grass is going to continue o grow so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You regularly edge the flowerbeds and weed the steps to keep your yard from looking like a mess. Then you keep the long grass under control with a weed-whacker.
Power tools and other yard tools can be very loud, and sustained exposure can and will harm your hearing. The noise from this equipment can be decreased and your ears can be safeguarded by wearing earplugs.
If you’re not wearing earplugs when you use the mower, over time, you will be observably doing hearing loss.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our country. But fireworks have a dark side. The noise they make can be in excess of 175 dB. That’s as loud as a pistol being fired right beside your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is suggested. You’ll still be able to hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your ears from future hearing loss.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Get help before your hearing loss becomes profound. Most individuals probably won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and regrettably, there’s no cure. Call us right away so we can help you identify any risks you may have.
