Hobbies are great, especially when you are an adult. They allow you to spend your free time doing something you love, meet others who share your interests and even helps you make new friends. But your El Paso audiologist has a warning for you – some hobbies can cause damage to your hearing. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to prevent your life-long passion from causing a life-long hearing impairment.
The answer? Custom ear plugs! Below are the three most popular activity-specific, custom-made earmolds your El Paso audiologist offers.
Swim Molds
Swim molds are designed specifically for swimmers or others who participate in water-based activities or sports to protect them from developing swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is an infection caused from bacteria that is usually present in lakes, ponds and the ocean. If the bacteria enters the ear and gets trapped, it can lead to an infection.
These plugs are also designed to float, which is particularly helpful when you lose them while you are in the water.
Hunter’s Earmolds
Hunting is a common hobby for those in El Paso. But did you know that a single gunshot can instantly damage your hearing? A gunshot measures 120 to 160 decibels, this is almost double the threshold of when sounds can cause damage to your hearing.
Hunter’s earmolds are designed to prevent the loud sounds of a shotgun to enter your ear, while still letting in the safe sounds to ensure you retain your control and remain aware of your surroundings.
Musician’s Monitors
These monitors are designed for both those playing in the band and those attending the show. The loud music at a concert can lead to noise-induced hearing loss.
Musician’s monitors are designed to reduce sounds evenly so the music and speech sound clear. This allows you to enjoy the music as it was meant to be heard while still keeping your ears safe.
As you can see, there are a number of solutions available to keep you safe while still allowing you to enjoy your hobbies. To learn more about protecting your hearing or to schedule an appointment with your El Paso audiologist, contact the office today.