What Sounds Cause Hearing Loss?

Being outdoors and enjoying various activities is always fun, but it’s important to remember that some of these activities can harm your hearing. Knowing which ones pose a risk allows you to bring protection, like earplugs, or avoid them when possible. By staying aware, you can protect your hearing while still making the most of your time. Let’s take a look at which sounds might cause hearing loss and how to stay safe.

Loud Concerts

You may be excited to head to a concert to see your favorite band or group perform. However, there are many loud noises that you’ll be exposed to and dealing with. There is noise that will come from the stage and speakers and the crowds can get quite loud as well. In some cases, concert noise can reach over 100 decibels. If you know you’ll be attending a loud rock concert then you may want to consider having a pair of high-quality earplugs with you.

Doing Yard Work

The noise from yard work can be harmful to your hearing over time. Machines like lawnmowers, leaf blowers and other power tools can produce sound levels above 90 decibels, which is enough to cause hearing loss if you’re exposed to it regularly. Without proper protection, using these tools can slowly damage your hearing. To avoid this, it’s smart to wear earplugs or noise-reducing earmuffs while doing yard work. Taking this precaution can help safeguard your hearing while you maintain your yard.

Sporting Events

Another activity is attending indoor or outdoor sporting events. It can be enjoyable to cheer on your favorite team and spend some time with friends and family. However, you should be mindful that sporting events can get loud. It’s especially true if you’re inside a closed arena, for example. There may also be speakers at these sporting events that can create a lot of noise which can be hard on your hearing.

Fireworks and Parades

Other sounds that can cause hearing loss are fireworks and parades. However, you should keep in mind that these loud booms and noises may negatively impact your hearing. In fact, fireworks can sometimes reach noise levels between 140-160 decibels. The same goes for parades that draw large crowds and maybe playing loud music. There are also usually cars or vehicles that have loud engines. If you’re attending a parade with your kids then you may want to protect their ears and hearing with earmuffs.

Air Shows

Attending an air show is an exciting experience, with planes performing impressive tricks in the sky. However, the loud roar of jet engines can be harmful to your hearing. These high noise levels can lead to hearing loss if you’re not careful. To protect your ears, it’s a good idea to bring earplugs or other hearing protection when attending an air show.

Keep in mind that some of these activities can pose a risk to your hearing if you are not wearing protection. If you think you are experiencing hearing loss then it may be time to see an audiologist and get your hearing checked.