Summer is by far the best season of the year for kicking back and relaxing. But it can also be one of the worst for your hearing health. That’s because summer, especially the Fourth of July, is full of loud activities that can contribute to noise-induced hearing loss. Here are three of them.
Fireworks: A Major Threat to Hearing Health
With noise levels between 150 and 175 decibels, fireworks are loud enough to cause immediate damage to your hearing, including tinnitus (ringing in your ears) and permanent hearing loss.
The following practices will allow you to enjoy fireworks this Fourth of July while reducing your risk of hearing damage from them.
- Maintain a safe distance. The closer you are to the action, the more noise you’ll be exposed to. Aim for being a minimum of 500 feet from where fireworks are being set off; this distance will still give you a great view while protecting your ears.
- Leave fireworks to the professionals. Many people enjoy buying fireworks and setting them off themselves, but this practice is fraught with risk. Not only do you increase your odds of suffering an accident, but your close proximity to the action puts your hearing in danger, too. Skip the home display and enjoy a professional show instead.
- If you do buy fireworks, choose wisely. Fireworks include noise level ratings on their packaging, so look for those that are quieter (your neighbors will thank you). Good choices include fountains, wheels, falling leaves and comets, which emit crackles and whistles rather than loud explosions. Avoid rockets, mines and fireworks designed to produce multiple blasts.
- Wear hearing protection. If you insist on being as close to the display as possible or want to discharge your own fireworks, wear earplugs or earmuffs. Inexpensive foam plugs are available at most drugstores and will provide adequate protection. Earmuffs are preferred for children, as they provide a better fit.
Yard Work, Outdoor Concerts and Air Shows, Oh, My!
Compared to fireworks, lawn equipment, outdoor concerts and air shows have much lower decibel levels. However, they’re still above 85 dB, which is the point at which permanent hearing damage can begin.
- Lawn equipment. Tools like lawnmowers and hedge trimmers emit sounds between 80 and 105 dB, which can wreak havoc on your ears if you’re around them for too long.
- Outdoor concerts. Because concert noise levels are frequently over 100 dB, prolonged exposure to this level of noise can damage your hearing.
- Air shows. The sound of a jet engine is between 120 and 140 dB, which is extremely harmful to your hearing system.
Safeguarding your hearing during these noisy activities is as simple as popping in a pair of earplugs. While disposable ones will do in a pinch, custom-made earplugs are your best bet at preventing hearing loss most effectively.
Think you may have hearing damage from exposure to loud noises? Interested in getting custom-made earplugs to prevent further harm? Call Audiology and Hearing Aid Services at (912) 351-3038 to schedule an appointment with one of our highly skilled doctors of audiology.
