In Florida, summer is nearly year-round, but there’s nothing quite like dusting off the outdoor grill or heading to your favorite birding trail to signify the true start of summer. Yet, as warmer months quickly approach, almost 14% of Floridians will struggle to hear the sounds of summer at all.
Healthy hearing is a key factor to enjoying your summer to the fullest. Imagine watching your grandkids play in the yard, but needing to strain to hear them. Or, visiting your friends for a barbecue and only catching every other word they say?
Hearing loss is on the rise across all age groups, especially among adults aged 70+. So, how do you ensure that you protect your hearing to enjoy the sounds of summer?
Be Proactive with Your Hearing Health
The best way to protect your hearing is by getting ahead of hearing loss. Once damage is done to the tiny hairlike cells in your inner ear, there is no way to reverse or repair the damage. While most degrees of hearing loss can be treated with hearing aids, these tips can help you protect your ears before they’re necessary:
- Schedule an audiometry appointment. If you have never had an audiometry appointment or your last visit was more than 3 years ago—it’s time to schedule one.
- Think about hearing health as part of your overall health. Poor hearing health links patients to a greater chance of developing dementia, mental health problems, and puts you at a greater risk for falls. When you think about the connection between hearing health and overall well-being, your hearing becomes more important to protect.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, limited stress, and connection with family and friends.
Protect Your Ears
You know that looking at the sun can permanently hurt your eyes—the recent eclipse was a good reminder that it’s only possible with the proper eyewear. So, why is it that when we’re at a concert or sporting event we don’t treat loud noises the same way? Well, it’s likely because sound is only dangerous at certain levels. Here are a few examples:
- The sound from a gas-powered lawn mower, which typically produces 80-85dB of noise, can cause permanent damage to your ears after 2 hours.
- A motorcycle can create 95dBs, leading to hearing loss in under 50 minutes.
- A firecracker can be up to 140 dBs, which can cause pain or immediate injury
If you’re not sure how to tell if a sound is too loud for your ears, an easy way to see is by opening a decibel (dB) meter app on your phone or smartwatch. These are quick and generally reliable for testing the amount of sound in your environment. If you don’t have access to these devices, a good rule to remember is that if you have to yell to be heard, it’s too loud.
Address Hearing Loss
You may not think you’re one of the 28.8 million Americans that could benefit from wearing a hearing aid, but did you know that over 30% of people between the ages of 65-75 experience hearing loss? And for those 75 and older, the number jumps to over 40%?
The effects of hearing loss may be permanent, but it doesn’t mean you have to “deal with it.” Hearing aids can significantly improve your quality of life. Plus, the last decade has led to incredible advancements in hearing aid technology, producing realistic-sounding, discreet solutions that let you get back to the sounds of your life.
Better Hearing Starts at the MedRx Hearing Center
At the MedRx Hearing Center, Dr. Amanda Kluzynski can help you prevent, identify, and treat hearing loss. In your first audiometry appointment, Dr. Kluzynski will perform a series of auditory tests that will help determine the level and range of your hearing. Then, based on the results of your exam, you’ll receive recommendations for hearing loss treatment options or actionable ways to help protect your hearing as it is. The MedRx Hearing Center even offers custom fit earplugs that are perfect for outings like concerts and sporting events.
Warmer (and downright sweltering) days are drawing closer, but there’s more you can do to prepare for the slew of summer activities than just stocking up on sunscreen!
The MedRx Hearing Center is helping people across Pinellas County hear better every day. Give us a call at (727)584-9696 to book a free hearing consultation and ensure your ears are ready for the days ahead.