Fall yard work isn’t always fun, but it supports healthy spring growth, prevents pests and reduces the chance of mold growth in leaf piles. Depending on the size of your lawn and the presence of large trees, you may need to use a leaf blower, weed whacker, rake, leaf mulcher or chainsaw. While they make yard work a lot easier, all those tools can reach unsafe noise levels, potentially harming your hearing.
Let’s take a look at a few ways you can minimize your noise risk while keeping your lawn pristine.
Wear Hearing Protection
Hearing protection dampens the force with which sound hits your ears. There are a few different options:
- Earmuffs. Earmuffs sit over your ears and offer great protection. They’re a standard option among construction and factory workers.
- Custom earplugs. Custom earplugs are perfectly molded to fit your ear, offering comfort and excellent protection.
- Silicone earplugs. Silicone earplugs are an inexpensive but durable option. They often come in shallow varieties and are comfortable for sleeping.
- Disposable foam earplugs. Disposable foam earplugs are a great option for people who aren’t frequently exposed to loud noise.
Put on your hearing protection whenever you use noise-generating tools, such as leaf blowers or weed whackers.
Don’t Listen to Music
Noise is compounding. That means that listening to music while running loud lawn equipment can put you at greater risk of hearing damage. Avoid listening to music or podcasts while doing yard work. If you’re just raking or gardening, it’s safe to listen to music at a low volume.
Outsource Work When Possible
If possible, hire someone to do big or noisy jobs, such as cutting down trees, leaf blowing or lawn mowing.
Go Analogue
If you have a smaller yard, consider swapping power tools for items like rakes, shovels, tampers, garden hoes, weeders, shears and pruning saws. Electric tools are also a great alternative to gas-powered options as they tend to be quieter. If you’re unsure which option is best for you, ask the workers at Katy Hardware for their advice when you go to buy tools.
Maintain Your Tools
Tools become louder as they age, especially if they’re not regularly maintained. Check the manual for each of your devices and perform maintenance like cleaning or lubricating mechanisms when necessary.
Noise-related hearing loss affects approximately 5% of the population. While the condition is common, it’s also highly preventable. By following the above tips, you can keep your ears in ship-shape. For more information on managing or preventing hearing loss, contact Davies Institute for Speech & Hearing today.