Noisy environments aren’t anything new. Each of us deals with noise on a daily basis from the loud chatter in our office to our children running around at home and everything in-between. But there are noises and sounds that repeated exposure to over and over again can cause permanent damage to our hearing.

At Little Rock Audiology, we believe that the best the treatment for hearing loss is to prevent it in the first place. We are going to highlight five common activities that require hearing protection.

Concerts:

No matter the style of music and whether you’re in a small club or large arena or amphitheatre, you need to protect your ears while listening to live music. Live music fans often face the challenge of protecting their ears while still getting the full sonic experience of a live show. For this reason, we recommend exploring specialized earplug options like Eargasm, EarPeace, or DownBeats.

In addition to protection, concert goers can also protect their ears by choosing a spot to sit or stand that is not directly in front of speakers or amplifiers, such as the center of the venue. For indoor concerts, take a look around the venue once you’re inside. If the show is open seating or standing room only, consider how the sound will bounce around and travel inside the venue.

Sporting Events:

Spectator sports present all sorts of issues for hearing during periods of time at an event. Music playing over the loudspeaker, the roar of the crowd, flyovers during the national anthem, and more. Auto racing events such as NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One will provide constant noise during the duration of the event. For these events, noise cancelling earphones or headphones can make for a much more enjoyable experience. Consider pairing them with a radio or scanner (for racing) to be able to listen to the broadcast of the event and team scanners, all while protecting your hearing.

Hunting and Shooting:

Whether you’re at the range or hunting game, firearms produce a repetitive noise that causes serious damage to your hearing. A standard pair of earmuffs or earplugs should be part of your attire during during these activities.

Usage of Power Equipment Including Leaf Blowing, Lawn Mowing, Drilling, and More:

As a homeowner or owner of any sort of property, you’ll have certain activities that you do to keep up your property. Often times, these activities require machinery that emit decibels much higher than what your ears should be exposed to. Use earplugs or earmuffs during these activities.

Riding a Motorcycle:

Riding a motorcycle presents a couple kinds of dangers for hearing. First, noise and decibel levels from a bike and surrounding traffic and second, exposure to the elements that come with riding. If you ride a motorcycle, invest in a durable pair of earplugs that will last or, consider a full-face helmet or helmet that at least provides ear coverage and protection while you ride.

Little Rock Audiology specializes in providing custom hearing protection in the form of earmolds made to fit your ears. We offer earmolds in a couple different forms, including earphones for electronic devices and earplugs for loud machinery. Call us today or leave us a message to talk further about your hearing needs.