Sound Waves and Summer Days: Your Guide to Protecting Your Hearing This Season

By: Esther Fogel

Summer is a symphony of distinct sounds. From the crashing of waves and the sizzle of a backyard barbecue to the roar of outdoor concerts and fireworks, the season is defined by its vibrant energy and explosive sound. However, the very activities that make summer so memorable also expose our ears to unique risks, namely, excessive moisture and high-volume acoustic trauma.

Taking a few proactive steps to safeguard your ears now ensures that you can fully enjoy the soundtrack of the season without compromising your long-term hearing health.

Turning Down the Volume on Summer Concerts and Festivals

Outdoor live music is a staple of the warmer months, but the open-air setting can give you a false sense of auditory safety. Sound levels at rock concerts, music festivals, and even community fireworks displays regularly exceed the decibel levels you should be exposing ears to. The permanent damage to the delicate hair cells of the inner ear can occur in as little as 15 minutes. This damage often manifests as a temporary dullness in hearing or a persistent ringing in the ears known as tinnitus.

Protecting your ears doesn’t mean skipping the show. The most effective strategy is to invest in a pair of high-fidelity or musician’s earplugs. Unlike standard foam plugs, which muffle sound and ruin the acoustic experience, high-fidelity plugs utilize acoustic filters to lower the volume evenly across all frequencies. This allows you to hear the music with absolute clarity and hold conversations with friends, all while keeping the volume at a safe, comfortable level. Additionally, make a conscious effort to position yourself away from the main speaker stacks and give your ears a 10-minute “quiet break” every hour.

Navigating the Waves: Keeping Water out of the Equation

Whether you’re hitting the local pool, swimming laps, or spending a weekend at the beach, water activities introduce a different kind of threat to your ears. When water remains trapped inside the ear canal after swimming, it creates a dark, moist habitat where bacteria and fungi thrive. This can easily lead to acute otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer’s ear. This painful infection causes inflammation, itching, redness, and temporarily muffled hearing.

To prevent swimmer’s ear, always dry your ears thoroughly after exiting the water. Tilt your head to each side and let gravity drain excess fluid, or use a soft towel to gently dry the outer ear. For frequent swimmers, surfers, or those prone to ear infections, custom swim plugs are an excellent defensive tool. Custom-molded to the precise shape of your ear canal, these medical-grade silicone plugs provide a watertight seal that keeps moisture completely out while allowing you to comfortably float, splash, and swim.

Hearing Health Supports Overall Wellness

Hearing plays an important role in maintaining social connection, cognitive engagement, balance, and emotional well-being. Staying connected to conversations and activities helps people remain active, independent, and engaged in the moments that matter most.

Today’s hearing technology is more advanced, discreet, and personalized than ever before. Many hearing devices are designed with comfort, connectivity, and lifestyle flexibility in mind, helping users stay confident whether they are traveling, attending events, or spending time with family and friends.

Seeking help early can make a significant difference in both hearing outcomes and overall quality of life.

Ready to Live Better This Summer?

Taking care of your hearing health can help you fully enjoy all the sounds and experiences summer has to offer. Whether you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or simply want a baseline evaluation, scheduling a hearing test is an important step toward better hearing and better living.

Contact Us Today

Comprehensive Audiology is located at 261 Broadway in Lynbrook. We help people of all ages live better by hearing their best. Make your appointment today by calling 516-387-4000 or by scheduling an appointment online at: comprehensiveaudiology.com/schedule-appointment. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube, and Instagram at @comprehensive_audiology. 

Ready to live better? Schedule a hearing test today.