4 Hobbies Tied to Hearing Loss

Everyone must strike a good balance between work and recreational time. Too much work can result in stress and significantly increase the risk of having certain medical conditions and diseases.

As you can imagine, people engage in various hobbies and interests whenever they have some spare time. But what you may not know is that some hobbies can be largely responsible for individuals to develop hearing loss.

Have you ever wondered if your hobbies might be increasing your risk of developing hearing loss? If so, the following four hobbies are among the biggest causes of hearing loss in Americans today.

Do-it-Yourself (DIY)

Many Americans love spending their spare time completing various DIY jobs in their homes or for relatives and friends. It’s a fun pastime that keeps you occupied, teaches you new skills and helps save you some money compared with hiring contractors.

The only downside to DIY is how you can sometimes get exposed to very loud noises. For example, hammering, sawing and cutting and using a nail gun are just a few ways your ears could get permanently damaged from exposure to loud noises.

Shooting

Whether it’s seeking out clay pigeons or aiming for targets at a range, shooting is undeniably a popular pastime in the United States. It’s a hobby that people of all ages enjoy, and it teaches you how to improve your hand-eye coordination skills, among others.

When shooting, it’s always a good idea to wear ear protection as the sound of each round getting discharged from a gun is literally deafening – even though it may only occur for a split second.

Playing Musical Instruments

Of course, not everyone enjoys shooting at things. Some people prefer to have a calmer and perhaps more broadly acceptable hobby, such as music. Whether playing an instrument or just listening to music, the one thing you should always do is keep the volume down to a level that’s comfortable for your ears.

Prolonged exposure to loud musical instruments or music playing from speakers will almost certainly result in permanent hearing loss yet taking some simple protective measures can virtually diminish the risk of that happening.

Motorcycle Racing

One final noise-inducing hobby that you should take care with is motorcycle racing. The thing about motorcycles and any form of two-wheeled transport with an engine is that they can be loud – even when idling.

Some individuals modify their motorcycles with almost hollow mufflers, resulting in a very loud engine note – especially when the motorcycle gets revved high. If you enjoy motorcycle racing in your spare time, make sure you wear earplugs or other ear protection to reduce the risk of developing permanent hearing loss.

Do you engage in any of the above hobbies or ones that leave you exposed to loud noises and sounds for long periods? If so, make sure you schedule an appointment with an audiologist for a hearing test.