Summer Hearing Tips: How to Protect Your Ears While Enjoying the Season

Summer is here - bringing sunshine, outdoor concerts, fireworks, water fun, and more. While it’s the perfect time to enjoy all that the season offers, it’s also important to be mindful of your hearing health. Many popular summer activities come with hidden risks to your ears that can lead to temporary or even permanent hearing loss. 

Here are a few simple ways to protect your hearing this summer while still making the most of it: 

1. Pack Ear Protection for Loud Events 

Outdoor concerts, festivals, and with the 4th of July right around the corner, fireworks displays are all exciting summer staples - but they can reach dangerously high decibel levels. Sounds above 85 dB (about the level of heavy city traffic) can start damaging your hearing after prolonged exposure. 

Tip: Bring a pair of high-fidelity earplugs. They reduce the volume without muffling the sound quality, so you can still enjoy the music or festivities safely. 

2. Keep Water Out of Your Ears 

Swimming is a favorite summer pastime, but staying in the water too long or diving into lakes and pools can increase the risk of swimmer’s ear or other ear infections — especially if water gets trapped in the ear canal. 

Tip: Use custom-fit swim plugs or tilt your head and gently tug your earlobe to help drain water after swimming. Always dry your ears thoroughly with a towel. 

3. Avoid Inserting Objects into Your Ears 

After a swim or a sweaty hike, it can be tempting to grab a cotton swab to “clean” your ears. But inserting anything into your ear canal can push wax deeper or even damage the eardrum. 

Tip: Let your ears clean themselves naturally. If you suspect a buildup, talk to a hearing care professional. 

4. Be Mindful with Headphones 

Whether you're listening to music on the beach or catching up on audiobooks during a road trip, be cautious with volume levels — especially when using earbuds. 

Tip: Follow the 60/60 rule — listen at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. And consider noise-canceling headphones to reduce the urge to turn up the volume in noisy environments. 

5. Protect Your Ears During Yard Work 

Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and power tools often exceed safe sound levels. Repeated exposure can lead to noise-induced hearing loss over time. 

Tip: Wear protective earmuffs or earplugs whenever using noisy equipment, even for short jobs. 

6. Stay Hydrated and Healthy 

Your ears are part of your larger circulatory system. Staying hydrated helps maintain healthy blood flow, which supports all parts of your auditory system. 

Tip: Drink plenty of water and avoid prolonged sun exposure that can cause dehydration — your ears (and body) will thank you! 

Enjoy Summer — Safely! 

Your hearing health is worth protecting — this summer and every season. With a few smart precautions, you can protect your ears while making great memories. 

If you notice ringing in your ears, muffled sounds, or changes in your hearing after a loud event or water activity, don’t wait — contact the experts at HEAR Wisconsin for a hearing check.