Maybe one of your New Year’s resolutions was to pick up or revisit a hobby. Too many times, we spend our time being busy with life instead of living our lives, and hobbies can be wonderful ways to unwind, stimulate the mind, socialize, or find quiet time alone. As a trained percussionist who pursued a music minor in college, music has been my life-long creative outlet.
Hobbies offer many benefits to our overall quality of life. However, you might not have thought about how some hobbies may affect your ears.
As you explore the leisure activities that bring you joy, consider that how you like to unwind can subject you to very loud noises for prolonged periods. Here are five hobbies that need ear protection to keep your ears healthy, so you can keep enjoying all life has to offer.
Attending music events (or playing an instrument)
Love a good concert? Have you ever left a music event feeling like your hearing was muffled? Your ears were trying to tell you something!
Music events are fun, and many people enjoy catching their favorite bands when they come through town. However, you can expose your ears to sounds of 120 dB when you attend these events, so you’ll want to carry ear protection to your next event.
Even if your music hobby is picking up your guitar, drumsticks, or trumpet, grab some inexpensive earplugs and continue enjoying the music while keeping your ears protected.
Woodworking and DIY shop projects
If getting in your garage on the weekend and powering up your electric drill to work on a custom project sounds like a good time, just be sure to have headphones on hand, too. Your drill or power saw can reach up to 110 dB, and even exposure at that level for a short duration, can cause permanent loss.
Going to sporting events
You might not think of your favorite sporting events as potentially harmful to your hearing, but the loudest crowds have hit 140 dB! The fans, loudspeakers, horns and bells, and your friend next to you who has to shout into your ear to be heard all contribute to the noise level around you. So enjoy the full experience, but grab your earplugs on your way out to your next event.
Shooting
Enjoy shooting clays or going to the range? Unfortunately, prolonged exposure to the sounds of a firearm can cause irreversible damage. So, while you aim for the bullseye or a clay pigeon, find some earmuffs that will make this a hearing-safe hobby.
Motorcycling
There’s a thrill in revving up an engine and going for a ride, but did you know that the roar of a motorcycle engine can be up to three times the decibel level of a typical vehicle? Add the sounds of traffic and the reverberations inside your helmet (always protect your head), and your ears are exposed to many sounds. Look for earplugs that fit comfortably with your helmet on. You’ll still hear that engine purr sound you love while keeping your hearing intact.
If you want advice on our recommendations for hearing protection for all your different life activities, consult audiologist, Dr. Breese, at Doc Side Audiology or at Hearing Aids of Sarasota. We’ll help you enjoy your hobbies without risk to your hearing.
