Bonfire night is fast approaching, and with it, the excitement of a sight and sound spectacular. With exploding rockets and sizzling sparklers to look forward to, protecting your family’s hearing is unlikely to be your top priority, but it’s well worth taking a moment to think about the impact this fun but very noisy celebration can have on our hearing.
The World Health Organisation recommends the maximum safe decibel level for adults is 140 decibels, and for children only 120 decibels. At close range, fireworks are typically between 150 and 175 decibels – the equivalent to the sound of a jet taking off on a runway – and well above what’s safe for your hearing.
Such intense noise can cause temporary hearing damage and, in some cases, permanent hearing loss and other problems such as tinnitus – a persistent ringing in the ears – and even a perforated eardrum.
Fireworks and hearing loss – how to protect yourself
Here are a few ways to protect your hearing this bonfire night:
- Use hearing protection. Whether you’re launching your own fireworks or attending a public show, using hearing protection is the smartest and simplest way to ensure you don’t suffer any hearing damage. Foam earplugs are relatively inexpensive. Ear defenders are a better choice for small children because earplugs sometimes don’t fit and can be a choking hazard.
- Keep a safe distance at professional fireworks displays. The further away, the better, but a minimum distance of around 15-20 metres away from loud fireworks will still give you a great view without the sound pressure that can damage your inner ear. If you have children with you, it’s advisable to stay 50-60 metres away.
- Buy lower noise level fireworks. All fireworks you can purchase come with a noise level rating. Look for the ones with the lowest rating. Louder does not mean better. You can still have a spectacular show without the risk of hearing loss.
- Check in with your ears. If you start to feel any pain, discomfort, or ringing in your ears, leave the area as soon as possible.
It is important to keep in mind that if it’s too loud for you, it’s far too loud for your children. Children’s ears are more sensitive and less tolerant of noise. Infants should not be exposed at all. An infant’s ear canal is much smaller than that of a child or adult, so the sound pressure entering the ear is greater. What might not sound that loud to an adult can sound up to 20 decibels louder to an infant.
Get an NHS hearing assessment with Novus Health
If you live in Wakefield and think you have temporary hearing loss after attending a fireworks display, ask your GP to refer you to Novus Health’s audiologists for an NHS hearing assessment, or click here to find out more.
By Rob Johns, Head of Adult Hearing Loss, Novus Health
