Follow these spring hearing tips to keep your ears healthy this season.
As the weather warms up, it’s great to get outdoors and enjoy all of the sights and sounds of spring. But as you participate in seasonal activities, don’t forget about the hearing health risks that can come along with spring.
Here are a few hearing health risks to be mindful of this season, and spring hearing tips you can use to protect your ears:
- Landscaping dust and sounds
- Prolonged sun exposure
- Swimming and rain risks
- High winds
Read on to learn how to navigate these spring hearing health risks!
Landscaping dust and sounds
When the weather starts to warm up, it may be time to get your yard back in order. This can consist of bringing out the lawnmower, tilling the earth, planting flowers, and trimming your yard. With yard work comes dust and debris. Be sure to wear a hat or ear coverings to guard your ears against unwanted dust or particles. If the weather is hot, you can find a light bandana or jersey mask for your ears and face.
Along with dust and debris come the loud noises of yard tools. For example, lawnmowers, electric saws, or trimmers can all produce loud sounds that can be dangerous — not to mention uncomfortable — when you’re exposed to them for more than a few minutes.
Use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to block out potentially damaging sounds as you work to get your lawn ready for the season.
Prolonged sun exposure
If you live somewhere that gets cold in winter, the warm sun will feel amazing after months spent indoors. As a result, you may feel tempted to sit outside and soak in the sun for prolonged periods of time. If you do, be sure to use sunscreen — and don’t forget your ears! If you use hearing aids, be sure to remove them before applying sunscreen to your ears. You might also want to add a wide-brimmed hat for extra protection.
These simple steps will help you enjoy the benefits of sunshine without the health risks sunburns can pose to your ears.
Swimming and rain risks
Have you heard of Swimmer’s Ear? Swimmer’s Ear occurs when liquid gets trapped inside your ears, like after swimming or being caught in the rain. That liquid can lead to an infection, accompanied by symptoms like ear pain or muffled hearing.
Practice careful hygiene of your ears after getting them wet, including leaning your head to one side and drying them out with a towel. You can also take proactive measures by wearing earplugs when you swim.
If you use hearing aids, take them out before a swim or wear a hat or protective headband if you are going out in the rain. You can dry them by gently laying them out after use or using a hearing aid dryer.
High winds
Be mindful of your ears when you are out on a windy day. While wind is great for spring activities like flying kites, it can be potentially dangerous to ears due to the loud sounds and potential debris it can carry with it. Wear a secure hat or earplugs if you need to be outside on a particularly windy day.
Caring for your ears and being aware of seasonal habits that exist will help make sure you protect your hearing health while enjoying everything the spring season has to offer!
You can find more hearing loss tips and ways to care for your hearing health on the CapTel blog.
