Springtime is full of the sound of birds and the aroma of flowers. But if you don’t protect your ears during the spring, you could be at risk of developing hearing loss. We review to avoid hearing loss this spring below.
Wear Hearing Protection During Yardwork
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “An estimated 12.5% of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years (approximately 5.2 million) and 17% of adults aged 20–69 years (approximately 26 million) have suffered permanent damage to their hearing from excessive exposure to noise.”
Springtime is when most of us start working on our yards to get them ready to enjoy during the summer months. However, operating power tools without proper hearing protection can pose an extreme danger to your hearing. This is why we at Lake Jackson ENT recommend wearing hearing protection like disposable earplugs or earmuffs from Academy Sports + Outdoors in Brazos Square when operating a lawn mower, leaf blower or weed whacker.
In addition, hearing protection can prevent dust and other debris from entering your ears and causing impaction or infection.
Be Mindful of Moisture
If you enjoy water sports in the spring, make sure you wear swim plugs to prevent a painful infection known as swimmer’s ear, which can result in hearing loss if not treated promptly.
For those who wear hearing aids, it’s important that you protect your investment by wearing a rain jacket with a cinched hood or using an umbrella whenever it’s raining. You should also purchase a dehumidifier to store your devices in at night, especially if you live somewhere humid.
Protect Your Ears from the Sun
It’s important to protect your ears from the sun, as the skin on your ears is very delicate and could be susceptible to severe sunburn, which could ultimately lead to skin cancer. We recommend wearing a wide-brim sun hat or sitting in the shade whenever possible.
When you apply sunscreen, make sure you take your hearing aids out beforehand so the spray doesn’t infiltrate the ports and cause damage to your devices.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a hearing expert, call Lake Jackson ENT today.
