Saturday is July 4th, American Independence Day. Fireworks are a classic Fourth of July tradition, with their gorgeous colors and patterns. They are also incredibly loud, clocking in at 140–170 decibels, well above the threshold for dangerous noise levels. Let’s discuss how to watch fireworks safely with your hearing aids.
Can Fireworks Damage Hearing Aids?
Yes, the loud noise generated by a fireworks explosion is loud enough to damage hearing aids, but that does not mean you have to miss the show or take your hearing aids out, as we’ll discuss in a moment. First, let’s discuss how the blast can impact your devices.
When the forceful soundwaves from the fireworks hit your hearing aid, it can cause immediate physical damage to the microphone that picks up those soundwaves and to the electrical components that process them. This can cause feedback or even a temporary shutdown if the microphone or microprocessors become too overwhelmed or damaged by the noise.
How Can I Watch the Fireworks and Protect My Hearing Aids?
Our biggest recommendation for safely watching fireworks is to give yourself some distance. The closer you are to the noise, the more likely you are to hurt your ears and devices, and more severely. We recommend standing at least 500 feet away from the launch site. And even if you do have a solid distance, it’s always wise to use hearing protection, such as earmuffs, to shield your hearing aids and ears from the force of the soundwave.
Hearing aids have sophisticated noise reduction settings, and you can also adjust the volume. These features help protect your ears and make listening to the fireworks more comfortable, but they won’t shield the microphone or microprocessors from harm.
If you wish, you can take your hearing aids out, but we would caution that any noise loud enough to damage your hearing aids is also loud enough to damage your residual hearing. If you take your hearing aids out, make sure you’re still using adequate hearing protection.
By getting some distance and using good hearing protection, it is possible to enjoy a fireworks display this Fourth of July without damaging your ears or your hearing aids. Just remember to be conscientious of the effects of loud noise.
Signs Your Hearing Aids Might Be Damaged After a Fireworks Show
In the hours or days after the fireworks show, watch for some of these signs that your hearing aids might be damaged:
- Distorted sound
- Poor sound quality
- Power issues
- Increased feedback
- No sound
If you notice these or any other signs that something is off with your devices, bring them to Hearing Services of Santa Barbara for a hearing aid repair appointment. Our team can check the hearing aids for damage and perform some repairs.
Call us if you have any other questions about watching fireworks or enjoying any other loud activity with your hearing aids in. We want you to have a safe, fun and exciting Fourth of July without sacrificing your ability to hear. Call us to learn more.