Earplugs are fine for others, but do you really need them? Yes! Your hearing is an asset that you’ll want to guard for as long as possible. If that alone isn’t enough motivation to invest in earplugs, then it’s time to learn more about the many benefits of hearing protection.
1. Enjoy Your Favorite Activities in Comfort
Hobbies are supposed to be fun. They’re not supposed to cause you pain. That’s not always how it goes, though. Activities involving loud noises can hurt your ears.
Examples of painfully loud hobbies include:
- Attending concerts
- Cooking with loud kitchen appliances
- Keeping your yard neat and trimmed
- Hunting or shooting practice
- Participating in or watching motorsports
- Playing in a band
- Riding motorcycles
- Snowmobiling
- Working with power tools
If you start using hearing protection, you’ll no longer wince every time you shoot your rifle or start up your chainsaw. You also won’t spend your time fretting over whether you’re hurting your ears by participating in these activities again and again.
Instead, you can fully immerse yourself in the enjoyment of your favorite hobbies.
2. Protect Against Ringing in Your Ears
Tinnitus is a condition in which there’s a persistent ringing or buzzing sound in your ears. This annoying problem can be caused by exposure to loud noises. For example, after attending a rock concert, you may experience tinnitus.
Fortunately, many cases of tinnitus are short-lived. The problem may resolve on its own after a day or two.
In some situations, though, tinnitus can persist for several months or more. It’s also possible for the condition to reoccur after clearing up.
No matter how long tinnitus lasts, it can be quite unpleasant. You may find it hard to go about your daily activities, think clearly or relax.
Do what you can to prevent this problem by using hearing protection when you know you’ll be in a loud environment.
3. Maintain Your Hearing for Years to Come
Exposure to loud noises can lead to hearing loss. Your ears are made of small parts that work together. Many of those parts are quite delicate and sensitive. Loud noises can damage them.
If a sound is loud enough, it takes only a very short exposure to affect your hearing. Lower volumes aren’t necessarily safe either. Consistent exposure to volumes of just 85 A-weighted decibels or higher can cause damage.
Hearing loss can happen all of a sudden, or it can be a gradual development. Either way, the change may be permanent. If the problem becomes serious enough, you may need hearing aids or other treatment.
Guarding against noise-induced hearing loss is one of the top benefits of hearing protection.
4. Keep Your Job
Some jobs are loud, and there’s no getting around it. Musicians perform at high decibel levels. Construction workers use high-volume power tools. Factory workers deal with the whir and clang of machines.
If you work in a loud environment, you may struggle with balancing your hearing health and your need for income. Perhaps you worry that sticking with the same job could cause lasting ear problems. You know, though, that switching careers might lead to losing your seniority or your benefits.
With hearing protection, you don’t have to sacrifice your hearing for your job. Instead, you can use effective ear protection to keep you safe while you earn a living.
5. Preserve Your Long-term Health
Hearing loss affects more than just your ears. Research shows that having a hearing impairment can be all-around detrimental to your health.
People who can’t hear well may have trouble keeping up with conversations. As a result, they may withdraw from social situations. The less time they spend with others, the lonelier they may become. That’s a risk factor for depression and cognitive impairment.
Also, people with hearing loss are less likely than their peers to be physically active. With less exercise in their days, they may be more at risk for a variety of health concerns, such as diabetes and heart disease. They may also have poorer balance, walk more slowly and be more likely to experience falls.
If you want to maintain a strong body and mind as you age, then protecting your hearing is a good place to start.
6. Choose a Protection Style That Works for You
One of the best benefits of modern hearing protection is that there is a myriad of options available. You can take care of your hearing in the way that’s most suitable for you.
Examples of protection devices that are currently on the market include foam earplugs from the drugstore, earmuffs and custom-molded earplugs. If you need hearing protection because you’re attending a once-in-a-lifetime concert, then a disposable variety would probably suffice.
On the other hand, if you plan to use hearing protection on a regular basis, it may be worth looking into a custom system. The ear products will be designed to fit your ears exactly, so you can count on them being comfortable to wear.
In addition, custom earplugs can be tailored to the environment in which you plan to use them. For instance, hunters may want a variety that allows in sound right until the moment the gun fires. People who need earplugs for work may want an industrial-strength pair.
Get the Benefits of Hearing Protection from North Shore Hearing
Hearing protection can improve your quality of life and safeguard your hearing health. If you’re ready to discuss your options for hearing protection, contact our Long Island office.At North Shore Hearing, we specialize in providing custom ear protection. The options include earplugs for musicians as well as hearing protection for a variety of other settings. Contact us to get started.
