Including ears in fireworks safety plans

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Fireworks will be in the air on multiple nights this week — a feast for the eyes, but not always great for the ears.

News 8 spoke with the director of audiology at Rochester Hearing and Speech who says first and foremost fireworks can be dangerously loud. This is why he says it’s important that people include their hearing for safe firework use. He says whether you are watching or the one lighting them off, you should be wearing ear protection.

“The closer you are the more at risk you are to damage your hearing,” Dr. Greg Horton said. “These levels of sound that the fireworks create can cause temporary hearing loss or even permanent hearing loss, which is a constant ringing in the ear, and sometimes that doesn’t go away.”

Doctor Horton also says fireworks can reach a level of 140 to 170 decibels, which he compared to rock concerts that reach 110 decibels.

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