While summer is typically regarded as being one of the most positive experiences for people in terms of having fun, there are some dangers to your hearing hidden in the fun. After all, the loud noises that typically follow fun can be damaging in the short and long terms. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common summer sounds that cause hearing loss and what you can do to prevent it.
Fireworks
One of the most enjoyable parts of the summer months is the fireworks that are set off to celebrate a town’s accomplishments or a national holiday. While these are a beautiful display for the most part, they can produce an eardrum-tearing 150 decibels of sound, enough to cause permanent hearing damage. The human ear can only take 85 decibels before pain and damage becomes likely.
Concerts
Concerts are another one of the most common summer sounds that can cause hearing loss. With pulse-thumping sound waves coming from the speakers, though, you can easily be temporarily deafened by the music. You can still have fun at the concerts, though it is advisable to sit as far away from the speakers as possible and bring a pair of ear plugs.
Machinery
Even right now, there is a good chance that if you were to drive around the neighborhood you would hear someone trimming their lawn or landscaping. While it is a necessary part of summer life, the fact of the matter is that exposing yourself to these different noises can have very negative consequences for your hearing. You can avoid this by wearing earphones limiting your amount of time exposed to these noises.
Sports Venues
One of the most honored summer traditions is taking in a nice ball game or a race. While it is not very likely that you will suffer hearing loss from the roar of a crowd, the fact is that motor sports can negatively impact your hearing. The roar of the engine can produce 100 decibels over the period of up to five hours, resulting in a permanent loss of hearing.
Protecting Your Hearing
One of the first things that you can do to protect your hearing is to limit the amount of time that you are exposed to loud noises. This is as simple as spending less time at a concert or only staying for the last one hundred laps of a race. Another way that you can protect your hearing is to use ear plugs when you engage in activities that can harm your hearing. These plugs physically block hearing damage from occurring by acting as a barrier between eardrums and sound.