How to Protect Your Hearing from Loud Summer Noises

Summer activities often bring a variety of loud sounds, from fireworks and concerts to outdoor events and marching bands, which can pose a risk to hearing health. While many people focus on protecting infants by using ear protection during fireworks, experts highlight that everyone, regardless of age, should be mindful of noise exposure. Noise-induced hearing loss results from damage to the inner ear, auditory nerve, or central pathways caused by prolonged or intense noise exposure. According to the World Health Organization, over a billion young people are at risk due to exposure to dangerously high noise levels.

Hearing loss can occur at any age, with initial signs often manifesting as tinnitus or ringing, buzzing, or chirping sounds in the ears. Temporary hearing threshold shifts, where sounds become muffled after loud environments, can also occur and might seem temporary, but they indicate potential for long-term damage. The key to prevention lies in understanding sound levels: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends keeping noise exposure below 85 decibels for an eight-hour period. Noise levels increase exponentially with each increase of three decibels, so high-volume music at concerts—often reaching 106 decibels—can cause hearing damage within minutes.

Other risky environments include marching band rehearsals and outdoor concerts, which surpass safe noise exposure limits. Using proper ear protection like high-fidelity, custom-fitted earplugs can reduce noise levels by up to 20 decibels. Smartphones can be helpful for monitoring headphone volume and environmental loudness, while regular hearing tests can help track auditory health over time.

Protecting your hearing is essential to enjoy summer events without risking long-term damage. Being mindful of noise levels and using protective measures can ensure your summer sounds don't turn into lifelong hearing problems.

[Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-qa-deafening-summer.html]