Sounds Like Summer: Hearing Protection Tips for Concerts, Travel, and Pool Time

Jun 30

Summer is a season of fun, but it’s also a time when our ears can face some serious challenges. From loud concerts and fireworks (hello upcoming 4th of July) to splashy pool days and noisy travel, the warm-weather months can be tough on hearing health, especially for kids and teens.

At Sound Speech & Hearing Clinic, we believe that protecting your hearing can still be part of the fun. With just a few easy strategies, you and your family can enjoy every summer sound without putting your ears at risk.

🎧 1. Bring Ear Protection to Concerts and Festivals

Live music is a summer staple, but volume levels at concerts can reach damaging levels. Whether you're at a stadium show or a neighborhood block party, bring:

Ready-to-wear earplugs (available at most drugstores or online)
Custom-molded musician's plugs (ask us about these - they’re the best!)
Volume-limited headphones for children (so many options online)

Don’t worry, you can still enjoy the music. Many earplugs preserve sound quality while turning down the volume.

✈️ 2. Be Prepared for Travel Noise

Airports and airplanes are loud environments. For kids (and adults) with sensory sensitivities, the noise can be overwhelming. Pack:

Noise-canceling headphones
Chewy snacks or lollipops for ear pressure relief
Audiobooks or soothing playlists to help regulate

Bonus tip: Practice listening games on the plane to turn wait time into language time!

🏊 3. Keep Ears Dry and Happy

Water play is essential summer fun, but it can lead to swimmer’s ear, especially in kids with frequent ear infections or tubes.

We recommend:

Well-fitted swim earplugs like these
Swim caps or headbands over plugs
Thorough drying of ears after swimming (tip head side to side, gently towel dry)

If your child complains of ear pain or muffled hearing after a swim, follow up with your pediatrician or audiologist.

🧠 4. Don’t Ignore the Signs of Hearing Changes

Does your child say “what?” more often than usual after a loud event? Do they seem to mishear directions or complain of ringing in their ears? These may be signs of temporary or noise-induced hearing loss.

Hearing changes can sneak up over time, but they’re easier to address early. At Sound, we offer hearing evaluations for children and adults, including screenings, diagnostics, and custom earplug fittings.

Let the Good Times Roll (Responsibly!)

Summer is about making memories. With just a bit of preparation, you can make sure those memories don’t include ringing ears or hearing issues down the road.

Need advice on hearing protection or want to get fitted for custom earplugs before your next big event? We’d love to help.

🌟 Because every laugh, lyric, and splash deserves to be heard…safely.

Jody Vaynshtok

Jody is a California-licensed speech language pathologist with eight years of industry and clinical experience. She has worked with both adult and pediatric populations during her time at private practice, birth-to-three, and hospital facilities. She is experienced in the assessment and treatment of a variety of communication and cognitive disorders. In addition, Jody has a passion for working with adults looking to achieve clearer communication. Jody received her BS in Speech and Hearing Sciences and MS in Medical Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Washington. She was a part of the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford’s cleft and craniofacial clinic participating in the multidisciplinary assessment and treatment of children born with craniofacial abnormalities. She holds a staff position at UCSF and is the lead speech language pathologist for the department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery’s Hearing Loss Clinic. When she's not busy having fun with her clients Jody enjoys spending time with her husband, Anton, friends and family. And if she's not headed out somewhere fun for dinner, you might find her at Bar Method working out!