If we could describe July in one word, it would be: festive. Take the whole family to enjoy the fairs, festivals and fireworks around West Jordan, but make sure you’re protecting everyone’s hearing.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
It’s a common misconception that hearing loss affects older adults, but hearing loss can happen at any age. In fact, hearing loss among younger adults and minors is on the rise, and the most common type of hearing loss for this age group is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). NIHL affects 5.2 million children and teens under 19 and 26 million adults under 69.
As the name suggests, NIHL occurs when exposure to loud noise causes permanent damage to your hearing ability. This can happen instantaneously after a deafening sound (such as an explosion), or over time due to prolonged, ongoing exposure (such as working in a machine shop). The louder the sound, the less time it takes to cause damage.
NIHL is not reversible, but it is treatable, both for adults and for children. But it’s still important to be proactive about protecting your ears to prevent NIHL for you and your family members.
Watching Fireworks
You should already give fireworks a wide berth due to safety and pyrotechnic concerns, but also consider the effect they can have on your hearing. Up close, the sound waves from the explosion will be at their largest and most forceful, meaning they’ll do the largest damage to your ears. Stand back at least 500 feet, if not more.
You should also consider using hearing protection, even if you are keeping a safe distance. Earmuffs and earplugs are very effective at blocking out the worst of the destructive sound waves.
Festivities
As we said above, it’s not just extraordinarily loud noises that can cause NIHL; prolonged exposure to elevated sound levels also comes with hearing risk. Sounds at 85 decibels have the potential to damage hearing if you’re exposed to that noise for eight hours straight (or more). For reference, this is about the volume of a garbage disposal. We’re exposed to that kind of noise level daily.
This risk can be more difficult to mitigate because our modern world is so noisy that we don’t even realize we’ve reached volume levels that can damage hearing. This is a large reason why NIHL is on the rise.
Summer festivals and fairs can easily expose you to sounds at 85 decibels or more without you noticing. The sounds of live music, vendors calling out, the din of a crowded area and nearby traffic can all add up. And you and your family are probably in this environment for several hours at a time, so you can take in the whole experience.
Protect your hearing in these environments by making sure you give yourself some space from the noisiest elements (such as the live music) and by taking frequent breaks. Take a lunch break by picnicking in a quiet park nearby, or pop into a coffee shop for a pick-me-up and a break from the noise.
Signs of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
As you and your family enjoy the summer festivities, be on the lookout for signs of hearing damage in yourself and your children. This could include:
- Muffled hearing (for kids, they may say something like “everything sounds funny”)
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds
- Missing words in conversations
- Constantly asking people to repeat themselves
- A feeling of fullness or pressure in the ear
- Tinnitus
- If your child can’t communicate well yet, they may tug on or poke their ear frequently
If you notice any of these signs, seek medical attention right away. Call South Valley Ear Nose & Throat – West Jordan to set up a hearing evaluation.