As summer winds down and we begin our favorite fall traditions, there’s a lot to look forward to. But did you know that some fall activities can affect your hearing? We review everything you need to know to prepare your hearing for fall below.
Protect Your Ears from Noise
Whether you’re cheering on your favorite football team at Levi Stadium or using a leaf blower to clean up your yard, it’s important to make sure your ears are protected.
Within the inner ears are tiny hair cells called stereocilia. These cells have the important job of converting soundwaves into electrical impulses that travel to the brain to be interpreted as sound. When dangerously loud sounds pass through the ears, it can damage or destroy these cells. The result is permanent sensorineural hearing loss.
Any sound over 85 dB can damage your hearing. For reference, that is about the volume level of passing highway traffic or a busy café.
Below is a list of fall sounds and their decibel outputs:
- Lawn mower: 90 dB
- Leaf blower: 95-115 dB
- Football stadium: 100-130 dB
- Outdoor concert: 120-140 dB
- Hunting rifle: 150 dB
If you are going to be exposed to loud noises like these, it’s important to wear hearing protection in the form of earplugs or earmuffs. You can even order custom-molded hearing protection from Camino Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic.
Protect Your Hearing Aids from Moisture
Hearing aids are your connection to the hearing world, which is why it’s important to take good care of them to ensure they last. A common way hearing aids can be damaged is by exposure to moisture, especially fall rain.
To protect your hearing aids, make sure you wear a rain jacket with the hood up or use an umbrella when it’s raining.
If your hearing aids do get wet, be sure to:
- Switch off the hearing aids immediately.
- Remove the battery from the hearing aid and dry it with a cloth.
- With the battery compartment open, shake the hearing aid to remove the water.
- Place your hearing aid on a newspaper with the battery compartment still open.
- Or, if you have one, place the hearing aid in a dehumidifier.
For more information about preparing your hearing for fall or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Camino Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic today.
