Noisy Days of Summer – How to Protect Your Hearing

The sounds of summertime include a lawn mower revving up to cut overgrown grass, fireworks exploding on the Fourth of July, Memorial Day and basically almost every weekend at the Jersey Shore, and the harmonic sounds of a crowd singing along to their favorite artist during an outdoor concert. But, what many people may not realize is that all of these activities may put participants and avid listeners at risk for hearing loss.

“Noise exposure adds up over time,” Dr. Lindsay Bondurant, director of the Pennsylvania Ear Institute (PEI) of Salus University and pediatric audiologist, said. “Children are especially at risk. The earlier their exposure to excessively loud noises, the more likely they will develop a hearing problem.”

According to Dr. Bondurant, most people don’t think about noise levels when they are engrossed in everyday activities, whether it’s cutting the grass, watching a fireworks display, going to the movies, or even attending a rock concert.

“When it comes to listening to music, people believe louder is more fun,” observed Dr. Rebecca Blaha, PEI audiologist.  “People don’t consider the risk of turning up the volume. If you have ringing in your ears after a concert, it was too loud.”

The potential for hearing damage is determined not only by the loudness level (in decibels) of sound, but also by the length of time someone is exposed to noise: 85 decibels can be tolerated for eight hours; 95 decibels for just four hours. (Fireworks can reach 170 decibels!)

Audiologists at the Pennsylvania Ear Institute have these recommendations to avoid the risk of hearing loss:

• Properly insert earplugs. If they are not deep enough in the ear, you don’t get the necessary protection. Foam earplugs that can be purchased at a drugstore are effective – provided they are inserted correctly.
• Move a safe distance away from the source of the sound.
• Earmuff-style sound blockers are recommended for infants and toddlers. Be careful - ear plugs can be choking hazards for young children.
• Educate children so they are aware of the risks of too-loud listening devices, which may include toy vehicles, horns and sirens.