SIX EASY STEPS TO REMEMBER, IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR HEARING THIS SUMMER

7 Jul , 2015

The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) has issued an announcement encouraging people of all ages to protect their hearing this summer so they can treasure the sounds of the season for a lifetime. Packing hearing protection, along with the sunscreen for summer outings, is just one of six easy tips that BHI is offering to protect people from summer noises. 

1. Walk away and plug your ears—If a loud noise takes you by surprise, quickly plug your ears with your fingers and walk away. Increasing the distance between you and the source of the sound will help reduce the intensity (or decibels) at which the sound is reaching your ears.

2. Use Hearing protection—When you know you’ll be around noise, use for example, disposable foam or silicone earplugs, (which are available at A Atlantic Hearing aid center). They’re practical because you can still hear music and conversation when they’re in your ears, but they can block out dangerously loud sounds. 

3. Leave the fireworks to the professionals—Be smart when you celebrate. When watching a show, stay a safe distance away—where you can enjoy them but not expose yourself to loud noises. 

4. Limit your time in noisy environments—Do all you can to limit the length of time you spend in a noisy environment. When you do participate in noisy activities, alternate them with periods of quiet, and remember to use ear protection. 

5. Turn it down—When listening to smartphones and other electronics, keep them at a low volume. Limit your use of headphones and ear buds. Remember, it’s not just the volume that matters. It’s also the duration of time spent listening. 

AND FINALLY,

6. Visit your local hearing healthcare professional—A hearing healthcare professional (Like A Atlantic) can provide a hearing test to assess your baseline hearing level, determine if you have any hearing loss, and provide custom-fitted ear protection. HAVING YOUR HEARING TESTED IS ALWAYS FREE, AT A ATLANTIC HEARING AID CENTER 

Repeated exposure to loud noise, over an extended period of time, presents serious risks to hearing health. If you have to shout over the noise, to be heard by someone within arm’s length, the noise is probably in the dangerous range. 

Here are some warning signs:

You have pain in your ears after leaving a noisy area.

You hear ringing or buzzing (tinnitus) in your ears immediately after exposure to noise.

You suddenly have difficulty understanding speech after exposure to noise; (you can hear people talking but can’t understand them).