Top tips for hearing health in summer: What are the challenges?
As we head into warmer months, temperatures rise and days get longer. Summer brings a host of outdoor activities, holidays and social events with it. But just as you would stop and put on sun cream. There’s something else that needs to be looked after too- your ears! Amidst the excitement of enjoying the great outdoors, it is crucial to look after your hearing health.
Exposure to loud noises, water, and other summer-specific factors can pose risks to your hearing health. Taking steps to protect your hearing can prevent temporary discomfort or permanent damage. Ensure you continue to enjoy the season for all it has to offer.
What are common summer threats to hearing health?
It’s important to consider our hearing health all year round, however, summer presents its own set of risks. Let’s explore some of the most common threats to maintaining optimum hearing health. During the warmer months, so you are still able to enjoy all the sounds of summer.
Music and Concerts
Other than age-related factors, exposure to loud noises is the second biggest cause of hearing loss. Although summer is synonymous with exciting music festivals and exhilarating concerts, the high decibel levels can harm your hearing. Prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause hearing damage, including noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus. This usually occurs gradually, although it can also be an immediate reaction to a very loud sound.
Exposure to heat or moisture
Swimming and other water sports can lead to water getting trapped in your ears. Increasing the risk of ear infections which can affect your hearing. All water contains bacteria, but swimming in lakes and the sea pose more of a risk than pools. When bacteria from the water gets trapped in the ear, it can multiply in the canal. This leads to an infection in the skin within the ear causing inflammation and can become very painful.
Damage to hearing aids
Sweat and water are two of the biggest enemies of hearing aids. During summer, both of these things are prevalent. Sharp temperature changes can cause condensation and an increased likelihood to sweat. This can also cause damage to hearing aids, adding unwanted and unnecessary costs to repair or replace them.
Outdoor Equipment
Similarly to music and concerts, lawnmowers and other tools more commonly used in the summer can produce noise levels of about 90 decibels, while power tools can reach a staggering 100 or even 120 decibels. Regular exposure to these noise levels can cause long-term hearing damage.
So,how can we prevent and reduce risks?
Wear Ear Protection
When operating garden tools such as lawnmowers, it is vital to invest in protective high-quality earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones. If you find these options uncomfortable to wear periodically, moulded earplugs can offer increased comfort and effective noise reduction, protecting your ears from noise-induced hearing loss. If your summer plans involve plenty of concerts and festivals, you may also consider investing in earplugs or headphones for this reason also.
Maintaining Distances
At events with live music and loud noise, try to stay at a reasonable distance from the source of the sound in order to lower the intensity of the noise that reaches your ears. Speakers and amplifiers are specifically designed to maximise volume levels, so being within 10 feet of one could greatly increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss.
Keep Ears Dry
In order to prevent ear infections and problems associated with swimming, try to habitually ensure your ears are free of water after going for a swim. To do this, tilt your head to each side to help water drain out. Use a towel to gently dry your outer ears, and consider using earplugs designed for swimming to limit the amount of water that enters your ear canal.
Look after your hearing aids
Hearing aids are a valuable and beneficial tool, so ensure that you are storing them safely. Consider keeping your hearing aids in a protective case and out of direct sunlight when you are not wearing them, and avoid keeping them in places such as glove boxes or car dashboards where heat and moisture can build up. Leaving hearing aids in places such as these can cause irreparable damage.
Monitor for Signs of Hearing Issues
Be vigilant for symptoms associated with hearing issues. Due to many problems usually starting gradually and going unnoticed, it is important to visit an audiologist as soon as you notice anything out of the ordinary. Signs such as an ongoing ringing in the ears, muffled hearing or pain, need the expert advice of a professional promptly.
Summer is the perfect time to relax and enjoy yourself, but by taking proactive steps to protect your hearing like the ones outlined above, you can ensure it stays that way. Your hearing plays an important part in your everyday enjoyment, and it deserves care and attention, no matter the time of year. Enjoy the summer safely and soundly!