Students from Connecticut State Community College, the University of Hartford and many other Connecticut schools are working hard and keeping their eyes on an important upcoming event: spring break. Whether you like to party hard or drive to the beach, it’s crucial to watch out for your ears and hearing health. Let’s take a look at some hearing risks that you may encounter during your spring break and how you can safeguard against them.
Swimmer’s Ear
Swimmer’s ear is a type of ear infection that affects the outer ear canal.  Approximately 10% of people will develop it at some point. Its most common cause is water trapped in the ear canal, which makes it a greater risk for avid swimmers. Symptoms include:
- A feeling of fullness in the ear
- Ear pain, itchiness or discomfort
- Fluid from the ear
- Redness or swelling around the ear
- Muffled hearing
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Fever
If you’re planning a trip to the beach this spring break, take these precautions to prevent swimmer’s ear:
- Dry your ears. After swimming, dab your outer ear with a towel to remove water. Next, tug on your earlobe with your ear pointed down to allow water to drain. If you still have moisture in your ears, blow dry them on a cool, low-power setting. Hold the blow dryer at least a foot from your ear to prevent hearing damage.
- Wear earplugs. If you’re swimming laps, consider wearing earplugs to keep excess water out of your ears.
If you notice any symptoms of swimmer’s ear, call your provider for antibiotics to treat the infection.
Noise-Related Hearing Loss
Any noise at or above 85 A-weighted decibels (dBA) can cause hearing loss. That’s about the volume of a gas-powered lawn mower. The higher the volume gets, the faster you can damage your hearing. When you’re on spring break, environments like parties, festivals and concerts can quickly reach unsafe noise levels, putting your hearing at risk.
Try the following to protect your hearing:
- Pack earplugs. Earplugs are a great, inexpensive option for hearing protection. Pack a pair in your bag or pockets before noisy events.
- Watch the volume. Download a decibel meter on your phone and use it to monitor the volume in your environment. You can use it in noisy environments and either lower the volume or wear earplugs to minimize your risk of hearing damage.
If your hearing appears muffled after spring break, contact us at Sound Advice Audiology to schedule a hearing test with one of our specialists.