Finally, it’s summertime!!
That means it’s time to go out and enjoy all the exciting experiences that the season has to offer. But before you go to the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, don’t forget to take care of your hearing.
Loud noises can harm your hearing, even if you don’t feel like they’re very loud. So it’s important 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
Even in clean pools, there can be bacteria and parasites that can trigger swimmer’s ear. You can stop infections by keeping water out of your ears and earplugs can help you do this.
Polluted water getting into your ears, while normally not a serious issue, can have some adverse consequences. It can result in swelling, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
The eardrum and also the fragile inner workings of the ear can be damaged by untreated infections.
It’s not possible to completely stay away from all pathogens in hot tubs or pools, but using swimming earplugs will help safeguard your ears.
Live performances and concerts
Attending a concert is always a good time, particularly in the summer months. Because the entertainers are trying to reach such a big audience, however, volume levels are often off the charts.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you could be exposed to as much as 120dB of sound. These volume levels can instantly cause hearing loss that can be permanent.
Earplugs are fashioned to reduce sound, not 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 if you’re at a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
But that degree of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
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 trigger permanent 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 relevant for things like festivals, movies, plays, sporting events, and any other event where sound will be amplified through speakers.
property maintenance
The grass is going to keep growing so mowing will be required 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 in check with a weed-whacker.
Power tools and other yard tools can be very loud, and sustained exposure can and will damage your hearing. Earplugs will help reduce the noise from these tools and safeguard your hearing.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your hearing and it will become more obvious over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. On the 4th of July, we will all be celebrating our nation’s independence. But fireworks have a dark side. They can produce up to 175dB of noise. That’s the volume of a gun being discharged right beside your head!
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a big fireworks show. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll protect your ears from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is extreme to seek help. Most individuals most likely won’t even recognize that their hearing is gradually going until it’s too late, and unfortunately, there’s no cure. Have your hearing assessed regularly by us to identify your risk level.