Family, Friends and Freedom
This 4th of July is extra special as we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. While it’s wonderful to celebrate, the 4th can be a dangerous holiday in terms of hearing loss.
With a little planning, you can protect your ears from unnecessary damage.
For a safe and fun celebration, keep the following tips in mind.
Ear Protection
There are several different options for ear protection during noisy events like fireworks, concerts and festivals.
Ear plugs
Ear plugs are an easy and cost-effective solution that are widely available in grocery stores, pharmacies, or from online retailers. Ear plugs can be made of foam or silicone and are the most inexpensive option for protecting your hearing (or sleeping in a noisy environment!) They work by muffling the loud sounds from fireworks, dampening the volume while still allowing you to enjoy the show.
To correctly insert foam ear plugs, use the “Roll, pull, hold” method:
- Roll the plug between your fingers until it takes on a long, narrow shape, like a snake.
- Pull up and out on the top of your ear with your other hand to straighten the ear canal as you insert the ear plug.
- Hold your finger over the end of the ear plug while it expands inside your ear.
Silicone ear plugs typically just need the second step — gently pulling the ear up and out to insert them at the correct angle. Ear plugs that are inserted correctly will not stick out very far from your ear.
Over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones
Woodworkers, hunters and people with sensory sensitivities are just a few of the diverse users of over-the-ear noise-cancelling headphones, sometimes called ear defenders or ear muffs.
Ear defenders are a great option for situations with intermittent loud noises, like construction projects, yard work and fireworks. They cover the entire ear, so are easy to take on and off, and the padded earpieces offer a more comfortable experience for people who don’t like the feeling of something inside their ears. They are also convenient for hearing aid users who want to keep their hearing aids on their ears during the activity.
Ear defender headphones come in different varieties and the cost varies by how many special features they have.
- Passive ear defenders simply block out excess noise by creating a physical barrier around the ear with absorbent foam.
- Electronic ear defenders activate when loud sounds are detected.
- Active noise cancelling headphones use technology to detect sounds in your environment and create sound waves that are the exact opposite of them to cancel out the extraneous noise. These are great for background noises like airplane engines or highway noise, but less effective at sudden or high-pitched sounds, like fireworks.
Custom-fitted hearing protection
Custom-fitted hearing protection is the gold standard for people who frequently work in high-noise environments, like professional musicians and those who use power tools or noisy equipment as part of their job or hobbies. Frequent swimmers also appreciate the effectiveness of a custom-fitted device to keep their ears safe while in the water.
Schedule an appointment with one of our doctoral-level audiologists to discuss custom protective ear plugs.
Other safety tips for the 4th of July
Regardless of the length of fireworks display, its noisy side effects can be damaging, especially if you are too close. You want to protect yourself and have fun. It can be tempting to get up close to see the fireworks in all their glory. If you can safely do this, be sure to protect your ears first. But the best way to enjoy fireworks is to view a professional show from a distance.
Keep your distance
No matter how excited or awe-struck you may find yourself, there’s no need to get too close to fireworks. To protect your ears (and eyes), stand farther back. You’ll still get to watch the fireworks explode without causing unnecessary damage. The more space you can put between yourself and the fireworks, the better.
If you’re attending any loud festivals, avoid standing too close to speakers. You’ll hear the band even while keeping a safe distance. Remember to maintain that healthy gap from fireworks, firecrackers, and loud speakers at any barbeque or party you attend. You’ll still get to enjoy the sound, but with less damage to your ears.
Hearing protection is a great measure to take, but combining this strategy with additional tactics enhances the benefit and safety for your ears.
Take a break from the noise
If you are especially sensitive to loud sounds, plenty of small tips exist that you can take with you over the 4th of July. Consider giving yourself a break at some points during a celebration. If the fireworks show is long, think about stepping inside briefly to reduce noise even further. You can always come back out, and you’ll find you even appreciate the short break from the noise.
Tips for hearing aid users during fireworks
Hearing aid users should know that hearing aids are not designed to act as ear plugs. For any loud events or noisier parts of your evening, you may not want hearing aids left on. You could turn them off during any fireworks shows. If you’d rather leave them on, that’s fine, as long as you are comfortable with the sound.
Most advanced hearing aid technologies fit appropriately will not exceed the maximum power output if this has been pre-set, but most hearing aids never become earplugs and cannot stop loud sound.
Over-the-ear headphones are a good option for hearing aid users who want to leave their devices on their ears but be able to reduce loud noises during an event.
What noise level damages hearing?
Exposure to excessively loud noise damages your hearing. And once the damage is done, it can rarely be reversed.
It’s important to keep the noise level at a healthy decibel range to avoid further damage, and know how loud is too loud. Any sound that reaches 85 decibels or higher has the possibility of damaging your ears at close range.
Some smart watches have an option that will notify you when the sound around you exceeds safe limits. Consider turning that feature on to alert you to times when ear protection is helpful.
Keep the above tips in mind to avoid hearing loss where possible and still have fun this 4th of July.
For information on hearing evaluations and custom hearing protection for hunting, musicians or swimming, book an appointment with Associated Audiologists today.
