Hearing protection can save your ears while you mow the lawn!
Hearing loss can occur for various reasons; the most common cause may be old age, but other instances include earwax or loud noises as the culprit. Loud noise, in particular, can dull one’s ears at once or over time, resulting in various degrees of hearing loss. Some industries suffer from noise-induced hearing loss more than others, and the lawn care industry is one of them. Here’s what anyone taking care of their lawn needs to know about hearing protection.
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
To protect one’s hearing, one should know how hearing loss can happen. There are four main types of hearing loss, and as mentioned, noise-induced hearing loss is one of these types. A loud noise such as a gunshot or fire alarm could potentially injury someone’s hearing if that person was closeby. Meanwhile, one’s ears could become damaged by sustained noise at a high decibel level, like noise from a concert or a lawnmower. The tiny hairs in the cochlea become damaged. So far, there is no remedy for this besides hearing aids.
Does Your Lawn Care Routine Pose a Risk?
One’s lawn care routine may pose the risk of hearing loss. Typically, sustained sounds at 85 decibels or higher can cause hearing damage, and common lawn care tools all rate in this range.
- Lawnmowers: 90 dB
- Weedtrimmer: 97 dB
- Leafblower: 99 dB
- Hedgetrimmer: 103 dB
- Chainsaw: 110 dB
As a note, electric lawnmowers are quieter than gas-powered ones, but can still generate a hum at 75-80 decibels. It doesn’t hurt to lean on the safe side when it comes to hearing protection.
Ways to Protect Your Hearing
There are numerous hearing protection options on the market, mainly in the form of headphones. Knowing that lawn care tools have the decibel levels that they do, wearing hearing protection is the responsible course of action. As an alternative to headphones, Clarity Audiology offers custom hearing protection. Whether you are a regular homeowner, a landscaper, a musician, a hunter, or another professional, Clarity has a hearing protection solution for you.
Trust the Experts at Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions
Need help with your hearing? Clarity Hearing can help. Clarity Audiology & Hearing Solutions is an independently owned and operated clinic that focuses on quality of care and personalized, friendly service to the surrounding areas of Ellicott City, Catonsville, Columbia. Our Doctors of Audiology are highly trained with advanced degrees and take the time to provide the personalized care and attention that you need and deserve. We provide advanced hearing aid options that are personally calibrated with cutting-edge digital technology to fit your hearing loss, your unique ear anatomy, and your individual listening needs.
You can call us today to schedule a FREE Hearing Protection Consultation at 410-698-6594! For more blog posts, news, and updates, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.