Fireworks! Protect Your Hearing
Our Audiologist Louise Hart discusses how an evening of fireworks could cause you hearing damage or trigger tinnitus and what you can do to continue to enjoy the beauty of fireworks without risking damage to your hearing health.
As an audiologist of many years and one that used to live in Lewes near Brighton and work there for many years, I have unfortunately seen intractable tinnitus and permanent hearing damage from fireworks and bangers (crow scarers) that are used on Lewes’s legendary Bonfire Night. When hearing is lost, we can’t bring it back. The beautiful memory of the fireworks is then lost for that individual and their family forever, just because of one night.
So why are fireworks an issue and why should you be wearing ear protection?
Fireworks are chemically small explosives that generate light and noise. This is because the heat and gas that builds up generate a large amount of energy and causes a blast wave which creates the bang. The bigger the explosion the louder the sound.
We know that sounds beyond 85dB can damage hearing depending on how long you are exposed. The UK Health and Safety Executive has laws and requirements that all companies to must comply with to protect employees in the work place for sounds over 85dB, from noise induced hearing loss.
Fireworks in commercial displays can range from 150dB to sometimes as much as 175dB. If you are to buy fireworks yourself, they cannot be louder than 120dB at 15 metres.
…As commercial fireworks go higher, they can be louder than shop bought ones. We are talking sound levels for fireworks that in the workplace by law you would be required to wear ear protection for…
- Louise Hart
Crow scarers/bangers can reach up to 155dB if you are within 5 meters of them. Even at 1 mile away it still registers at 104dB, that’s still too loud. At 120dB, the safe exposure limit to sound is less than 10 seconds. Sounds of 150-160dB are loud enough to potentially perforate your eardrum.
So, with this information in mind attending an evening of fireworks could indeed cause hearing damage or trigger tinnitus if you are close enough. So, it begs the question why do so many people stand around without any protection for their ears?
Wearing ear protection when enjoying fireworks
You can still enjoy the beauty and even the sound, but wearing ear protection whether it be earplugs or headphones, ear defenders will ensure you protect your hearing. Ear defenders with a good amount of sound protection can be bought at places like B & Q. Site SEP313 Ear defender | DIY at B&Q for less than £10 and same with ear plugs Hearprotek Ear plugs for concerts amazon.co.uk which are just under £15. These are some examples of reusable ear protection. So, for a small outlay you can easily protect your ears and save you from permanent damage and or distressing tinnitus.
Remember little ones also have smaller ear canals so the sound they will receive at their ear drum will be even louder than for you. So, protecting them is critical as they are even more susceptible.
One final thought
Whilst we are on noise and potential damage, the chart below from Manchester University Hospital shows safe listening times for headphones and earpods, there is a significant difference between the two for safe listening levels. (to be discussed further in a future blog)
Written by Louise Hart BA (Psych) Grad Dip Audiology, RCCP RHAD; Audiologist and Trainer
