Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun. Rhythms on the Riverwalk, Busch Gardens® Howl-O-Scream® and the Pancake Festival are just a few of the exciting things happening around Williamsburg this fall.
As you’re filling your calendar with days of festive fun, don’t forget to add one more thing: take care of your hearing.
How Do Concerts and Festivals Affect My Hearing?
Concerts and festivals can get pretty noisy. While measurements vary by type of concert and distance from amps, the International Noise Awareness Day organization provided these three measurements:
- Symphony concert: 110 dB
- Rock concert: 110-120 dB
- Band concert: 120 dB
For reference, noise at or above 85 dB can cause permanent hearing loss. The louder the sound, the less time it takes to damage hearing.
While non-music festivals aren’t usually as loud, the large quantity of people can generate a fair bit of noise, especially if those festivals involve haunted houses with plenty of spooky shrieks.
How Do I Know if I’m Hurting My Hearing?
There are a couple of signs you’re damaging your hearing:
- Sounds appear muffled
- You have ringing in your ears
- Sound feels uncomfortably loud
You can download a decibel detector on your smartphone to measure the volume of your environment. If it exceeds 85 dB, it’s time for hearing protection.
How Can I Protect My Hearing?
Fear of hearing loss shouldn’t stop you from enjoying all the fun fall activities Williamsburg has to offer. Rather than skipping the events, try a few of the following hearing protection methods:
- Wear earplugs. Earplugs dampen the force with which sound hits your ears. You can buy disposable foam earplugs or switch to reusable options like silicone, custom-molded or high-fidelity. High-fidelity earplugs are a great option if you’re a frequent concertgoer, as they filter sound to reduce the volume without sacrificing clarity. You can even wear earplugs during haunted houses to ensure all those frights don’t hurt your hearing.
- Stand away from the amps. Stand away from the amps to reduce noise exposure if you’re at a concert. Picking a seat further back from the stage is usually a good option.
- Take breaks. If your ears start to feel sensitive to noise, step away from the concert or find a quiet spot with fewer people at festivals.
For more information on protecting your hearing or to schedule a hearing test, contact Hampton Roads ENT ~ Allergy today.