Summer Has Many Dangers For Your Ears, Here Are Some Guidelines to Safeguard Them

Women enjoying a summer concert with hearing protection.

Summer has finally arrived, and it’s time for all that fun we’ve been looking forward to: trips to the beach, chilling out by the pool, and injured hearing? You might find yourself in environmental situations or exposed to other loud noises this summer that can be hidden risks to your ears. Any sounds above 80 decibels could injure your ears, while permanent hearing loss can take hold in swimming pools or other bodies of water. To keep your ears safeguarded this summer, you have to be conscious of your environment and take precautions. Here are six of the summer’s hidden hearing hazards.

When You Travel to Concerts, Wear Hearing Protection

Whether you’re at an indoor arena or an outside concert venue you still need to wear hearing protection during live music. Live music can reach that are over 90 decibels, even at outdoor shows, which is within the danger zone of hearing loss. That’s why it’s always a good idea to wear earplugs regardless of whether you’re going to a show indoors or outdoors. You can still hear the music with earplugs in it’s just dampened a little bit. If you’re going to a show with young kids, consider buying them a heavy duty set of earmuffs because children have more delicate ears than adults.

It’s More Than Just Loud at Fireworks

Honestly, there are a lot of reasons to avoid fireworks in the summer. We’re not talking about the specialized 4th of July fireworks show, we mean the backyard fireworks that cause many of accidents throughout the summer. In addition to causing hand traumas, loss of sight, and house fires, personal fireworks can also result in serious damage to your ears since they’re known to achieve decibel levels of 155. This year, on the 4th of July, appreciate the show from a distance and leave the fireworks to the professionals.

Hearing Loss Can be Caused by Lawnmowers

If you love to take care of your yard, mower, edger, and trimer are your best friends. But that muffled feeling in your ears is a signal that your hearing has been damaged. That’s because the constant noise from your lawn tools have a slow and steady impact on your hearing. If you’ve ever noticed landscapers, you probably have seen them using ear protection, you should take a cue from them and wear earplugs or earmuffs next time you take care of your yard to make sure your hearing doesn’t get injured.

Here’s How to Protect Your Hearing When You go Swimming

Millions of people suffer from swimmer’s ear every summer, which happens when the ear canal traps water that is high in bacteria. Swelling and painful earaches are the result when the bacteria infects the ear. It’s not just rivers and lakes that hold these bacteria, they can sometimes be found in pools and hot tubs if they are not cleaned and treated thoroughly. No permanent damage should occur if you get your ears checked out by a hearing specialist. To be safe, when swimming in your pool, wear special swimmers earplugs and keep the chemical balance precise to lessen the likelihood of getting swimmers ear.

Boats and Other Water Sports

If you love the water, summer is beach and boating time for you. But, boat and jet ski engines can be noisy,they can get up to more than 100 decibels. Irreversible hearing impairment can happen after about 15 minutes of exposure to that much noise. Once again, it’s probably in your best interests to wear a couple of throw away, foam earplugs while you’re out on the water to make sure you don’t inadvertently damage your hearing.

Your Hearing Can be Damaged by Car Races

It doesn’t make a difference what kind of auto racing you like, midget, Formula 1, drag racing, motorcycle Formula 1. If you attend many auto-races this year, they all pose a risk. It’s calculated that sound levels can go beyond 120 decibels at many races, which is certainly in the danger zone for hearing injury. Earplugs are your best bet at these races, although your kids should probably wear the earmuffs which were mentioned earlier. Because you may not get to appreciate the sounds of any races in the future if you don’t.

The site information is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. To receive personalized advice or treatment, schedule an appointment.