Summer has some activities that are simply staples: Outdoor concerts, fireworks shows, state fairs, air shows, and NASCAR races (look, if you enjoy watching cars drive around in circles, nobody’s going to judge you). The crowds, and the decibel levels, are getting larger as more of these activities are going back to normal.
And that can be an issue. Let’s face it: you’ve noticed ringing in your ears after attending a concert before. That ringing is something called tinnitus, and it could be an indication of something bad: hearing damage. And the more damage you do, the more your hearing will decline.
But it’s ok. With the proper ear protection, you’ll be able to enjoy those summer experiences (even NASCAR) without doing lasting damage to your ears.
How can you tell if your hearing is taking a beating?
So, you’re at the air show or enjoying an incredible concert, how much attention should you be paying to your ears?
Because you’ll be fairly distracted, understandably.
Well, if you want to avoid significant damage, you should be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
- Tinnitus: This is a ringing or buzzing in your ears. It’s a sign that damage is taking place. You shouldn’t automatically dismiss tinnitus just because it’s a fairly common condition.
- Headache: Generally speaking, a headache is a strong sign that something isn’t right. And when you’re trying to gauge hearing damage this is even more pertinent. A pounding headache can be triggered by excessively loud volume. And that’s a strong indication that you should seek a quieter environment.
- Dizziness: Your inner ear is generally responsible for your ability to keep yourself balanced. So if you’re feeling dizzy at one of these loud events, particularly if that dizziness coincides with a charge of volume, this is another indication that damage has occurred.
This list is not complete, obviously. There are little hairs in your ears which are responsible for detecting vibrations in the air and excessively loud noises can damage these hairs. And once these tiny hairs are destroyed, they never heal or grow back. They’re that specialized and that fragile.
And the phrase “ow, my little ear hairs hurt” isn’t something you ever hear anyone say. That’s why you have to watch for secondary signs.
It’s also possible for damage to occur with no symptoms whatsoever. Any exposure to loud sound will lead to damage. The longer you’re exposed, the more severe the damage will become.
What should you do when you experience symptoms?
You’re getting your best groove on (and everyone is digging it), but then, you begin to feel dizzy and your ears start ringing. What should you do? How many decibels is too loud? And are you in the danger zone? (How loud is 100 decibels, anyway?)
Here are a few options that have various levels of effectiveness:
- Bring cheap earplugs wherever you go: Cheap earplugs are, well, cheap. For what they are, they’re relatively effective and are better than no protection. So there’s no reason not to have a set in your glove compartment, purse, or wherever else. Now, if the volume starts to get a little too loud, you simply pull them out and pop them in.
- Cover your ears with, well, anything: The goal is to safeguard your ears when things are loudest. So if you don’t have any earplugs and the volume levels have caught you by surprise, think about using anything around you to cover up and protect your ears. Even though it won’t be as efficient as approved hearing protection, something is better than nothing.
- You can go someplace less noisy: Honestly, this is probably your best possible option if you’re looking to protect your hearing health. But it’s also the least enjoyable solution. So if your symptoms are significant, think about getting out of there, but we understand if you’d rather find a way to safeguard your hearing and enjoy the show.
- Find the merch booth: Some venues will sell disposable earplugs. Check out the merch booth for earplugs if you can’t find anything else. Your hearing health is important so the few dollars you pay will be well worth it.
- Try distancing yourself from the origin of the noise: If your ears start hurting, make sure you aren’t standing near the stage or a huge speaker! To put it bluntly, distance yourself from the origin of the noise. Maybe that means giving up your front row NASCAR seats, but you can still have fun at the show and give your ears a necessary break.
Are there more effective hearing protection strategies?
So, disposable earplugs will work when you’re primarily interested in safeguarding your hearing for a couple of hours at a concert. But it’s a little different when you’re a music-lover, and you attend concerts nightly, or you have season tickets to NASCAR or football games, or you work in your garage every evening repairing an old Corvette with noisy power tools.
You will want to use a little more advanced methods in these scenarios. Those measures could include the following:
- Speak with us today: You need to identify where your present hearing levels are, so come in and let us help. And after you have a recorded baseline, it will be easier to detect and record damage. Plus, we’ll have all kinds of personalized tips for you, all tailored to protect your ears.
- Get an app that monitors decibel levels: Most modern smartphones will be able to get an app that monitors the ambient noise. When noise gets too loud, these apps will sound an alert. Monitor your own portable decibel meter to ensure you’re safeguarding your ears. This way, you’ll be able to easily see what decibel level is loud enough to damage your ears.
- Professional or prescription level hearing protection is recommended This may include custom earplugs or over-the-ear headphones. The better the fit, the better the hearing protection. You can always take these with you and put them in when you need them.
Have your cake and hear it, too
It might be a mixed metaphor but you get the point: you can enjoy all those great summer activities while still safeguarding your hearing. You just have to take steps to enjoy these activities safely. You need to take these measures even with headphones. You will be able to make better hearing decisions when you know how loud is too loud for headphones.
As the years go on, you will probably want to continue doing all of your favorite outdoor summer activities. If you’re not sensible now you could end up losing your hearing and also your summer fun.
References
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/hearing_loss/what_noises_cause_hearing_loss.html
https://hearinghealthfoundation.org/decibel-levels