From lawn mowers to music festivals, common seasonal noise can cause lasting harm unless you take simple steps to protect yourself
As summer gets louder with garden tools, festivals and local fêtes, hearing specialists are warning the public to take greater care. Repeated exposure to loud noise – even for short periods – can cause permanent hearing loss. Unlike other injuries, the damage is painless, irreversible and often goes unnoticed until it is too late.
Eric Johnson, an audiologist at West Virginia University, recently warned that tools like petrol-powered leaf blowers or chainsaws can emit more than 100 decibels – enough to cause harm in just 15 minutes of unprotected exposure. The same applies to fireworks, live music events and even enthusiastic cheering at events.
UK guidance aligns with this. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states that prolonged exposure to sounds over 85 decibels can damage hearing, and recommends that employers take steps to reduce risk, including providing protection and monitoring exposure times.
You don’t need to be using the equipment
It’s not just gardeners, festival crews or DIY hobbyists at risk: bystanders, neighbours and children can also be affected. If you're within a few feet of a loud noise for extended periods, you should wear earplugs or earmuffs to reduce exposure by 15–30 decibels.
“Sound-induced hearing loss is entirely preventable,” said Eva Opitz, Clinical Audiologist at Hearology®. “We often see patients who are totally unaware of the damage caused by everyday, cumulative noise exposure over time. Therefore, it comes as something of a shock to be told that permanent hearing damage has occurred. That’s why we’re trying to get the word out in articles like this. Earplugs, particularly those with a high noise reduction rating, are a simple, smart investment.”
Tools to help you measure and manage
- A free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app (iOS only) lets users check real-time noise levels in their surroundings
- High-fidelity musician’s earplugs can protect hearing without muffling sound quality
- Noise-cancelling earmuffs offer greater comfort for longer activities like gardening or building work
- Breaks from prolonged noise help limit cumulative exposure
Festivals, motorsport, nightclubs and garden work may be part of summer, but health experts are clear: ear protection should be too.
References
- HSE noise at work guide – The UK’s official workplace guidance on noise exposure and protection
- RNID: Protect your hearing – Advice on noise risks and how to prevent hearing loss from the Royal National Institute for Deaf People
- NIOSH Sound Level Meter app (iOS) – Measures decibel levels and gives warnings if you’re at risk
- NHS: Hearing loss – Symptoms, causes and treatments of and for hearing loss
