When you think of ear protection, you are likely picturing a construction or demolition worker wearing a big pair of earmuffs. While wearing hearing protection during construction is very important, there are more times when you should wear earplugs than you may have considered.
Noise is measured in decibels. For example, a refrigerator hum can reach 40 decibels (dB). The Centers for Disease Control defines the threshold for hearing damage as noise above 70 dB for a prolonged period or above 120 dB immediately.
Let’s take a look at a few times when carrying earplugs is wise to protect against hearing loss.
During Concerts
The average rock concert exceeds sound levels of 100 dB. Different venues and types of shows will expose you to varying noise levels, but carrying earplugs to all of them is wise. If you are concerned about the earplugs affecting your enjoyment of music, consider bringing a pair of custom earplugs. Custom earplugs are often worn by musicians and are designed to dampen the force with which sound hits your ears without affecting the sound quality.
During Yardwork
Spending a Saturday mowing the lawn or planting flowers from Cofers Home & Garden Showplace can be a relaxing experience. Adding earplugs to your gardening routine can make it even better. With earplugs, you can mow or weed wack your yard without worrying about the sound damaging your hearing. When mowing, you can wear earmuffs over earbuds for extra protection. It is also wise to avoid listening to music while mowing the lawn. Because the mower is loud, many people will be tempted to raise the volume of their music to unsafe levels.
When It Is Loud Near Your Home
Loud construction, traffic noise, street parties, trains and more may bring more noise into your home than expected. A good rule of thumb for noise in the home is to wear earplugs if the noise becomes annoying or bothersome. Not only will you protect your hearing, but you will have the added benefit of avoiding or quieting down the source of annoyance.
To learn more about hearing protection, contact ENT of Athens today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.