The summer can be hard for your hearing

SATURDAY, July 13, 2019 (HealthDay News) – Some of the sounds of the summer can be a serious threat to your hearing.

According to the American Academy of Audiology, outdoor concerts, fireworks, thunder and gardening equipment are among the causes of hearing loss

"Many summer activities are noisy and can lead to hearing damage," said Lisa Christensen, president of the academy and head of the audiology program at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth, New York. Texas.

"The inner ear contains delicate hair cells that do not grow back," she said in a press release from the academy. "Once they are damaged by noise, it results in permanent hearing loss." It is important that people using hearing protection drive all-terrain vehicles, shoot with firearms, use equipment and power tools and attend major sporting events and concerts. "

Noise above 85 decibels can damage hearing, and noise over 120 decibels can immediately damage hearing, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The sound of fireworks can reach 155 decibels, a jet aircraft taking off at 150 decibels, a gun at 140-175 decibels, and a thunderclap of up to 120 decibels.

It's not just the decibel level that counts. The duration of exposure to noise also affects the level of risk. Spending a lot of time using a heavy lawnmower, a chainsaw, a trimmer, a leaf blower or any other equipment can cause hearing loss, said the academy.

"Children are often exposed to the same noise as adults in summer," Christensen added. "Parents should be careful to teach them to stand out loud noises and to protect their ears."

Outdoor activities are not the only source of damaging noise in the summer, noted the academy. Many children and adults spend more time in the summer listening to music with headphones. Standard ear buds can produce sounds from 80 to 125 decibels.

More information

The US National Institute on Hearing Loss and Other Communication Disorders learns more about noise-induced hearing loss.