Finally, it’s summer!!
That means it’s time to get out and enjoy all the exciting experiences that the season has to provide. 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 appreciating summer, remember that your hearing can be harmed by loud noises. So it’s essential to take measures to safeguard your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to experience loud noises.
Here are several activities that are best experienced with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Even in clean pools, there can be parasites and bacteria that can result in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep water out of your ears and prevent infection.
Polluted water getting inside of your ears, while usually not a serious issue, can have some negative repercussions. It can lead to inflammation, pain, and even temporary hearing loss.
Left untreated, infections can cause damage to the eardrum and the fragile inner workings of the ear.
It’s impossible to completely avoid 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 fun, particularly in the summer months. But live concerts are usually really loud.
You may be exposed to more than 120dB of volume depending on the spot that you’re standing. That’s enough to cause instant and lasting hearing loss.
Earplugs will block some of that sound but won’t distort it. Earplugs have an NRR rating with a range of 20 to 33, which identifies the strength of the protection. An NRR of 20 will reduce the sound by 20 dB. So if you’re attending a concert with 120dB of sound, it will be reduced to 100dB.
However, that’s still a potentially damaging level.
Protecting your hearing will mean using a higher NRR the closer to the speakers you will be standing. Within 15 minutes, you can experience permanent hearing damage even if you use the highest level of protection. For the best protection, stand far away from the speakers and use earplugs.
This doesn’t just pertain 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
The grass will keep growing so mowing will be necessary pretty much weekly. You take measures like edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks nice. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to clean up around the trees.
Your hearing will certainly be damaged by the volume level of yard equipment. The noise from this equipment can be reduced and your ears can be safeguarded by using earplugs.
If you’re mowing the lawn without earplugs, you’re gradually damaging your ears and it will become more evident over time.
Independence Day
It wouldn’t be Independence Day without them. When July arrives, it’s time to celebrate the birth of our nation. But fireworks have a negative side. The noise they produce can be in excess of 175 dB. That’s the volume of a pistol being discharged right next to your head!
You’ll definitely want earplugs if you’re attending a large fireworks show. If you’re close to the action, the highest NRR rating is recommended. You’ll still hear the fireworks and they will still be loud, but you’ll be protecting your hearing from future hearing loss.
Protecting your hearing is important
Don’t wait until your hearing loss is profound to get help. Hearing loss related to loud noise can’t be corrected and since it happens so gradually, most people don’t recognize they’re damaging their hearing. Get your hearing checked regularly by us to determine your risk level.