The holiday season has officially begun, and the RestorEar team couldn’t be more excited. Whatever your plans are this holiday season, it's important to be mindful of your health and wellbeing during this busy, often chaotic time. One aspect that is commonly overlooked is hearing health. However, the holidays can introduce noisy stimuli that most of us don’t experience in our everyday lives. Because of this, it’s important to be extra mindful of your hearing health. Here, we will identify some holiday-related noise risks that you should be aware of, as well as offer solutions to help keep you and your loved ones healthy all season long.

Toys

Many children’s toys emit sounds or music that may be above safe listening levels. What’s more, children have increased sensitivity to sound because of their smaller ear canals, putting them at greater risk of hazardous exposure. The holidays are synonymous with new toys in many households, but it is careful to be aware of the risks they may pose to hearing health. But the fun doesn’t need to stop. There are easy steps to take to ensure safe noise levels during holiday play. These include:

• Opting for noiseless toys
• Covering speakers with tape to dampen the sounds
• Removing batteries when they become too loud
• Limiting the use of loud toys for smaller periods at a time

Music and Concerts

Another pivotal aspect of the holiday season is music. Whether it is caroling, attending a concert, or rocking out to Mariah Carey in the car, music is everywhere. But as we know, loud music can be a hazard for hearing health. Some ways you can listen safely include:

• Keep music volume under 60%
• Stand far away from speakers at concerts when possible
• Use earplugs like these when around loud music
• Give your ears a break by finding a quiet place during the event
• Use ReBound after the event for post-noise exposure therapy

Loud Shopping Malls

Many of us find ourselves at shopping malls during the holidays, whether to get last-minute gifts or take pictures with Santa. These spaces can be crowded, hectic, and not conducive to hearing health. Music in stores, loud chatter in the food court, and busy parking lots can all be hazardous exposures for our ears. When you are shopping, some ideas to keep your ears healthy are:

• Make trips to the mall smaller and faster to prevent extended exposure
• Use earplugs 
• Use ReBound after shopping for post-noise exposure therapy

Parties

One of the best parts of the holiday season is spending time with family and friends– often at parties. Unfortunately, more people and more cheer can lead to louder noise. Though not an event like a concert, large gatherings can still produce noise above safe limits. Keep the holidays safe by considering the following:

• Keep music volume low or ask the host to do so
• If you are hosting, place noise-absorbing panels throughout the house
• Find a quiet room to take a break, or designate a quiet room in the house
• Offer some quieter activities like board games or cookie decorating

Fireworks

The holiday season ends with New Year’s Eve, which inevitably means fireworks. Last summer, we wrote about the dangers of fireworks for our hearing health, which you can read about here. Some tips we suggested to stay safe include:

• Wear earplugs
• Stand away from fireworks as they are set off
• Use ReBound after enjoying the show

We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season, however you choose to spend it. If you are looking for a perfect gift for a loved one that will keep their ears safe and healthy, try ReBound.

Happy Holidays!