Ah, late spring! What a wonderful time of the year. Summer is just around the corner -- the signs are everywhere. The birds are chirping, the grass has greened up, the trees are once again full and lush, and our neighbor has started weed-eating every Saturday morning at 7a.m. like clockwork.
As a matter of fact, now that we can sit outside on the deck enjoying the sounds of the approaching summer, I'm reminded that this is the season when hearing protection is most in demand -- and no wonder! As we break out the mowers and motorcycles, the bikes and boats, and the four-wheelers and fireworks, the inevitable side-effect of all that summer fun is a whole lot of noise. Here's how we suggest you keep your ears protected during your favorite summer activities.
Protect the kids!Children have especially sensitive hearing structures in their ears, and once your hearing is damaged, it is damaged for good. The same goes for adults: the delicate sound-sensors in your ears sadly cannot be repaired. That means your children's hearing needs protecting whenever they are going to be exposed to loud noise of any kind. We recommend ear muffs for the little guys, from infancy up to the age of about 3 or 4. Children beyond the choking-hazard age can then start to use ear plugs (we always strongly encourage adult supervision), but until about 7 years of age, we recommend molded earplugs made of silicone putty or wax instead of foam ear plugs. These moldable ear plugs are not inserted deep into the canal, but are instead just used to fill the outer ear and cover the canal opening. And for older kids and teens, music and concert ear plugs become a vital summer accessory for attending concerts and other noisy outdoor events.
If your older kids are really into the music scene, we especially recommend the ER-20: it turns down the volume to safe levels without distorting a single chord, it has a pretty cool high-tech look, and it comes in a variety of colors, making it a good bet for getting older, image-conscious kids and teens to actually wear their earplugs at shows.
And sound isn't the only thing you can protect your kids' ears from. Water in the ear (and the resulting swimmer's ear) is another summer hazard for kids that can be easily prevented by regular use of ear plugs. We recommend floatable putty buddies, which work great, have a fun look for the kiddos, and really do float -- so you're less likely to lose them! If some good water earplugs aren't enough, or if it's particularly important that your kids' ears stay water-free (if they have ear tubes, for example), pair those putty buddies with an ear band-it headband to keep the ear plugs in and moisture out, for maximum water protection.
And if your little ones do get water in their ears, we actually have a couple of options that can help. Mack’s Dry and Clear drops break surface tension to help the water drain out, and are terrific if you do get water in the ear. Alternatively, Mack’s has also recently released a new ear dryer that gently blows warm air into the canal to help dry those ears. Cirrus has also dreamed up a new product this year that we like a lot: ClearEars, which are water-absorbing ear plugs that actually draw water out of the ear. All of these ear care products are especially helpful when your child has ear tubes, or is very prone to ear infections.
Protect your pets!Everyone has a story about a dog that runs for cover every fourth of July when the first firework goes off. If this sounds like your own best four-legged friend, Safe and Sound Pets has a solution. Mutt Muffs (which are exactly what they sound like: earmuffs for dogs!) were invented for pilots who wanted to take their pets up in their noisy airplanes. Canine Corps officers are also big users of the Mutt Muffs, as they help their charges to remain focused in chaotic, noisy situations. Comfy and safe, we've found that these canine earmuffs are a great solution for dogs that are sensitive to all kinds of loud sounds, including fireworks, shooting events, and crowded venues with lots of noise. The dog can still hear with the Mutt Muffs on -- they just reduce the volume enough so that most animals are not freaked out so much by the overwhelming noise.
Protect the whole family!Summer is the time when every Dad becomes a handyman -- so make sure Mr. Fix-It is good to go in terms of protective gear. Ear muffs with a built-in radio do double duty: they make the mowing more enjoyable, and they protect his hearing (or hers!) at the same time. From lawn work to honey-dos to tinkering in the workshop, ear protection is every bit as important for the do-it-yourselfer as eye protection is!
Of course, mowing and power tools aren't the only engine noises you should protect your ears from during the summer season. Drag races call for hearing protection for the whole family, as do tractor pulls, boating events, dirt bike races, and of course NASCAR events. And if you're worried about missing out on the thrill these loud events offer, never fear: no ear plugs can ever block all the sound around you, so you will still hear plenty of the noise that makes these events so exciting even while your ears are safe and sound. The only difference is that, if you use a good pair of ear plugs, you will actually get to continue hearing after the event is over!
Happily, protecting the whole family during fun, noisy summer activities is easier, more comfortable, and more effective than ever before. Today’s ear plugs and ear muffs are a far cry from the ordinary plugs and muffs of yester-year. There are specialized hearing protectors for babies and children, for swimming and flying, for shooting, for motorcycling, and even for sleeping. There are ear plugs that let you hear perfectly -- but at a reduced volume, without the muffled effect you get from ordinary foam ear plugs. There are electronic hearing protectors that not only protect your hearing, but that also amplify sound so you can hear better with them on than you can with your naked ear.
With all these choices easily at hand, it's a snap to get really prepared for summer -- and now is the time.
So when you're done stocking up on sunscreen, charcoal, and those little candles that (supposedly) keep the mosquitoes away, don't forget to complete your summer gear-up with some ear protection for the whole family. Stop by our store to check out the products we've recommended here, and pick up the hearing protection you need to protect you and your family this summer -- and all year long.
Until next time, be safe and do the right thing.
--Tom "Dr. Earplug" Bergman
Everyone should protect our ears. They can be really sensitive in sudden weather changes.
Posted by: lyric hearing aids high point nc | 07/31/2010 at 03:46 AM