Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent, meaning there is no healing after the damage has occurred. Broken air cells do not grow back.
While you know that loud noise contributes to hearing loss, did you know that the vibrations from fireworks also have the potential to break hair cells inside your ear?
In addition to hearing loss, tinnitus is also a potential result.
Three Tips for preserving your hearing
1. Wear hearing protection
If you have earmuffs for hearing protection wear them. They do an excellent job of protecting your hearing from noise damage. Wearing earplugs will knock down the sound too. If you want maximum protection, use your earmuffs with earplugs.
2. Watch from a distance.
Distance matters because it reduces damaging sound intensity and vibrations — the more distance between you and the fireworks, the less risk of hearing damage.
3. Protect babies and children
The less noise babies and children experience from fireworks, the better. Remember, babies’ and children’s ears are far more sensitive — it takes far less sound permanently damage their hearing. Earmuffs with earplugs are the best protection.
Some fireworks create noise levels equal to a jet engine or gunfire— and so you need the same level of hearing protection to prevent permanent damage.
