Finally, it’s summertime!!
This summer season has tons of fun. But before you go to the beach, the concert, or the backyard cookout, don’t forget to protect your hearing.
Loud noises can harm your hearing, even if you don’t think they’re that loud. So it’s important to take measures to protect your ears, particularly during the summer months when you’re more likely to be exposed to loud noises.
Here are a few activities that are best enjoyed with earplugs.
Going for a swim
Bacteria and parasites love water and can even live in fairly clean pools potentially resulting in swimmer’s ear. Earplugs will help keep water out of your ears and stop infection.
Polluted water getting inside of your ears, while normally not a serious issue, can have some adverse repercussions. Temporary hearing loss, pain, and inflammation can be the consequence.
Left untreated, 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 using a pair of swimmers earplugs.
Concerts and live performances
Going to a concert is always fun, especially during the summer. Because the performers are attempting to reach such a large audience, however, noise levels are usually really high.
Depending on where you’re standing at the venue, you might be exposed to as many as 120 decibels (dB). That’s enough to lead to immediate 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 establishes 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 lowered to around 100 dB.
But that amount of sound can still potentially damage your hearing.
The closer you are to a speaker, the higher NRR you’ll need to protect your ears and prevent irreversible hearing damage. Even if you acquire the highest level of hearing protection, you will still be subjected to sounds loud enough to cause irreversible hearing damage within 15 minutes. Use earplugs and stand at a distance from the speakers for best protection.
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.
Yard work
You do it every week, but the grass continues to grow. You take measures such as edging flower beds and weeding the gardens so your yard looks great. Then you utilize a weed-whacker to touch up around the trees.
Power equipment and other yard equipment can be really loud, and prolonged exposure can and will harm your hearing. Earplugs will help lessen the noise from these tools and protect your hearing.
If you’re mowing without earplugs, you’re slowly damaging your ears and it will become more apparent 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 there’s a negative side to fireworks. The noise they produce can exceed 175 dB. That’s as loud as a gun being discharged right next to your head!
You’ll absolutely want earplugs if you’re attending a large fireworks show. If you’re near to the action, the highest NRR rating is advisable. You’ll safeguard your hearing from damage and the fireworks will still be loud enough.
It’s important to protect your hearing
Get help before your hearing loss becomes extreme. Hearing loss caused by loud noise can’t be reversed and since it takes place so gradually, most people don’t recognize they’re damaging their hearing. Get your hearing checked routinely by us to identify your risk level.