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Noise-induced Hearing Loss
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Fireworks and Your Delicate Ears
I'm ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, but must admit I am not a fan of the noise that accompanies fireworks — lovely as they may be. Those booming sounds can really damage the delicate structures in your ears; once they're damaged, they never regenerate and can't be repaired. This condition is known as noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL).
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Love Fireworks? Invest in Earplugs
Fourth of July means fireworks! I don't want to rain on your parade (since the Fourth is often celebrated with parades, too), but the loud pops and bangs of fireworks can cause serious hearing damage.
When the delicate structures in your ear called hair cells — sensory cells located in your inner ears responsible for converting sound energy into electrical signals — are damaged, they never regenerate and cannot be repaired.
Enjoy Fireworks - Save Your Ears
I'm sure most of you are planning on catching a public fireworks show this 4th of July. Watching them can be really exciting, but did you know you can risk noise-induced hearing loss?
Here's how loud some common summer sounds are:
Having a conversation: 60 decibels
Mowing the lawn: 95
Riding a motorcycle: 110
Listening to a live concert: 120
Exploding your own firecrackers (which is NOT safe by the way): 150
Watching fireworks: 130 to 190, depending on how far away you are
10 seconds of a loud fireworks display may be just as dangerous for your ears as an hour of pushing the lawn mower.
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