Summertime means that we residents of the beautiful Northwest will be outside as much as we possibly can. There are two potential sources of damage to our ears which are of greater concern during the summer.
First, our ears are subject to sunburn. Many of the hats we wear do not protect the ears from damaging exposure to sunlight. Consider wearing a hat with a brim that extends completely around the head, rather than the baseball type hat which many of us wear. Also, remember to apply sunscreen to the ears. It is easy to forget them.
Secondly, summertime means increased exposure to noise from yard maintenance tools or other power tools. Injurious levels of noise are produced by almost every power saw, power sander, nail gun, weed eater, leaf blower, roto-tiller, power washer, and shop vac. Ear plugs or ear muffs are well worth their small cost and the minor inconvenience of putting them on. They cost less than hearing aids. This is well worth attending to because there is growing evidence that the damaging process initiated by excessive noise exposure continues long after the noise is gone.
So, enjoy the summertime, but remember to protect your ears!
