by Tamiko Teshima, M.A., CCC-SLP
Practice Owner & Speech-Language Pathologist
Duncan Lake Speech Therapy, LLC
It is the time of the the year for fireworks. Some people love the pomp and circumstance of this holiday spectacular, but in all honesty (and in my humble opinion, of course), fireworks are just kind of…bad. Plus, they are loud. Like really loud. So loud that the language pathologist part of my personality gets really nervous! While they can be fun to watch, the noise they make can actually hurt your ears, especially if you’re close by. That’s why it’s super important to protect your hearing.
Why Does Hearing Protection Matter?
Your ears help you hear all the cool things in the world, like your favorite songs, your best friend’s laugh, or the birds singing in the morning. Inside your ears are tiny parts that send sound to your brain. Loud noises, like fireworks or concerts, can damage those parts. Once they’re damaged, they don’t heal. That means the damage can last forever.
Any sound over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. Fireworks can be over 150 decibels. That’s louder than a jet engine! If you’ve ever had ringing in your ears after something loud, that’s a warning sign. It means your ears were working too hard.
What Can You Do?
You don’t have to skip the fireworks or miss the fun. Just be smart:
- Wear earplugs or noise-canceling headphones. They help block the loudest sounds.
- Watch from farther away. The farther you are, the quieter the boom.
- Take breaks. If things get too loud, step back or cover your ears.
It’s Not Just Fireworks
Loud music, video games with the volume all the way up, even lawnmowers can hurt your hearing over time. Ear protection isn’t just for the Fourth of July. It’s something to think about every day! We only get one pair of ears, so let’s take care of them. Whether it’s fireworks, concerts, or loud sports games, protecting your hearing is a smart move.
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