Summer is here, and that means time spent outdoors in the warmth and summer sun. Hot temperatures, time spent outdoors, and swimming – what’s not to love? However, despite the pros of summer, the sounds of summer can prove to be harmful to our ears. Many of the outdoor activities we partake in during the summer can be loud, which is part of the fun, but precaution is needed to ensure that our summertime activities don’t harm our hearing.

Keep your ears happy and healthy this summer season by following our list of simple summer hearing tips.

• Make it a habit of packing a pair of ear plugs when you head out of the house, along with your bug spray and sunscreen. You never know when you might encounter loud sounds.

• Whenever you are near loud sounds, use ear plugs to protect your sensitive ears. You can pick up disposable earplugs at your local pharmacy, which will adequately block out loud sounds while allowing you to hear conversations around you still.

• When you can, increase the distance between you and the source of sound. By doing this, you will reduce the sound decibel level that is reaching your ears. Use this mode of thinking at music concerts, air shows, and at firework shows.

• When you have to be in a noisy environment for an extended period of time, make sure you wear ear protection and limit the amount of time you spend there. Make it a habit that you alternate noisy activities with periods of silence.

• If you often listen to an MP3 player via a pair of headphones, keep the volume level down low and limit your use of headphones. Both duration and volume both play a role in hearing loss.

• If you wear hearing aids, use caution when swimming and when applying sunscreen. Pay particular attention when you are applying sunscreen to your ears, and try to avoid getting sunscreen on your hearing aids.

• Do you love to swim during the summer? If so, make sure you thoroughly dry your ears when you get out of the pool. Otherwise, you risk developing an ear infection or swimmer’s ear.

• Visit your local hearing healthcare professional to help you determine if you have hearing loss that should be addressed. It is imperative that you make an appointment if you suspect any degree of hearing loss.