If you’re a snowboarder and you haven’t been using ear protection, we have some bad news for you — your hearing is likely damaged and could become worse.

Your ears are exposed to loud noises (like those from an airplane, or sitting too close to speakers) without protection. And while this may not seem like a big deal, it can lead to serious hearing problems down the line.

That’s why protecting your hearing now with foam or wax plugs will keep you healthy and active later in life!

Heading To A Snowboarding Event.

Before heading to a snowboarding event, consider wearing ear protection to minimize the noise levels, and the cold!

In fact, you’ve probably been hearing about this for a while already.

The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) recently called for all skiers and boarders to wear ear protection at their events.

Before heading out for your next weekend trip, make sure you have the right hearing protection.

Are You Worried About Your Hearing?

When you snowboard, and do not have ear protection, you will get snowboard ear!

If you are worried about your hearing, try to get the best ear protection you can find.

Before you leave for your next snowboarding trip, make sure your ear protection is ready!

Snowboard Ear! All Snowboarders Will Get It Eventually!

• Cold ears. If you’re not wearing ear protection and it’s below 40 degrees Fahrenheit outside, put on a hat and gloves. If you do not, your ears will get cold–and you can get snowboards ear.
• Windy day = more wind chill. If the wind is above 15 miles per hour (mph), then your ears will be affected even more by the cold weather.
• What about earmuffs? Earmuffs help with warmth, but they don’t help with windchill! So if the wind is above 15 mph, forget about earmuffs! You should already have your foam or wax plugs in for protection against the windchill!
• Days of constant pain. If you have a headache after being outside in the cold, you have a “cold injury” and not some kind of snowboard ear.

How To Protect Your Hearing At A Ski Resort.

If you’re looking to protect your hearing while snowboarding, you have several options available to you.

The best way to reduce sound exposure for long periods is by using disposable foam earplugs.

These are very cost effective and are readily available at most drugstores or general stores near ski towns.

They’re also quite comfortable, so you should have no issues wearing them all day if necessary. You can also wear a hat to cover those ears.

You Can Get Permanent Hearing Loss From Attending A Snowboarding Event?

It’s not the noise so much as the cold that will affect your hearing at these events.

If you use ear protection, you should not get snowboard ear.

Who Is At Risk?

If you’re a snowboarder, you’re at risk if your ear protection isn’t in place.

In fact, cross-country skiers and snowshoers are also at risk of suffering from the effects of repeated ear damage from attending a snowboarding event.

If you aren’t wearing any form of hearing protection, all it takes is a loud noise to irritate the delicate inner workings of your inner ear and cause permanent hearing loss or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

Warning Signs.

Some of the warning signs of snowboard ear are:

• Hoarse voice after a day of snowboarding/hiking/skiing, etc. When talking, users often notice that the volume is reduced compared to normal. It is equally common for those feeling pain or irritation in one or both ears to also notice that they have a hoarse voice after a day out on the hills.
• Ringing in the ears. If you feel very uncomfortable and irritated with your ears buzzing, this is a sign of damage from repeated exposure to loud noises during a snowboarding event. This may also be accompanied by an increase in pain behind the ear and within your head.
• Fatigue/Altered Hearing. If you notice yourself getting tired from wearing ear protection all day, this is a sure sign that your hearing is struggling and damage is occurring, possibly sooner than later.
• Difficulty Hearing Certain Sounds. It’s common to find that certain sounds are no longer heard as clearly as they were previously.

If this is the case, it’s likely that the inner workings of your ear are being exposed to loud noises all day long, which can lead to damage.

How Much Is Impaired Hearing Worth?

It’s estimated that the average person loses around 20% to 50% of their hearing in life. So, if your hearing is completely gone, what would it be worth?

Well, while it’s impossible to say for sure, if you go on personal all-inclusive holidays where you are exposed to loud noises every time you get outside of your room, then you could expect that this would have a huge impact on your hearing.

Also, if you had to listen to someone talk regularly at work or school because they had trouble understanding what they were saying. Then this might be another reason the previously mentioned cost estimate seems so high.

Check out these tips for wearing ear protection when snowboarding:

• Buy Quality Earplugs–Cheap earplugs don’t fit right and let outside sound through. Their flimsy design can even cause ear damage! Be sure to look for earplugs that are meant for snowboarding. They should be made of a soft foam or wax. (And they shouldn’t be too small or too big!)
• Use Earplugs Every Time–Do you also ride snowboards? If so, put earplugs in before you enjoy snowmobiling! If you’re not riding, but are at the snowboard park, put plugs into your ears any time there’s loud music or noise levels are high. Also, there are a few other times in a day when this is a good idea: going to the gym, going jogging in a park, going skating in the winter!
• Be Aware Of Other Snowboarders–If someone is standing too close, she may be unaware of the noise levels. And if you know someone who doesn’t wear ear protection, be sure to tell them how important it is! You may also want to use earplugs when talking on the phone. Most people are loud talkers and rarely realize how loud they are!
• Keep Track Of Your Earplugs–It’s easy for plugs to get lost — especially if you’re always taking them in and out. A lanyard can help attach your earplugs to a piece of string and clip that onto your jacket or helmet.

Getting The Right Ear Protectors When At Snowboarding Event.

There are several things that you need at a snowboarding event. You will need snowboarding event tickets, tickets for your friends and family, snowboarding event check in etcetera.

But what if you do not have the right snowboard apparel? It is difficult to go to a snowboarding event without the right clothing and equipment. And if you want to protect your hearing at that time, then you will need to get ear plugs or ear plugs with music.

Before we move on further, it is important that we know what the best hearing protection for snowboarders and how it works.

Comfort.

Comfort is the first thing that you should consider before you go snowboarding. If your hearing protection is not comfortable, it will be next to impossible to wear it for a long period.

Many people have worn them just to take them off a few minutes after because they were too uncomfortable. They could barely even tell the difference in volume.

Durability.

Durability is another thing that needs to be considered before you buy your hearing protector. You do not want to have to replace your ear plugs every time you wear it. When you take them out, they should still work properly.

There are several ear plugs and earmuffs available for snowboarders. They can range from hard plastic or soft foam to silicone gel or even a combination of the two. Look at the different styles and once you have decided which one is best for you, then go online and order the ones that suit your needs best.

Portability.

Portability is another concern for most consumers for hearing protection. If you are going to a snowboarding event, then you are probably bringing a lot of other things with you. You do not want to have to carry around something that will take up a lot of space when you are at the snowboarding event.

There are several types of portable hearing protection. If you do not want something that takes up too much space in your pocket or in your bag, then try bluetooth earplugs or eco friendly earplugs.

They may not be as effective for maximum noise cancellation, but they will still protect your hearing while giving you the freedom of movement without all the bulkiness.

Fitting.

Fitting is the last thing that you need to consider before you buy your ear plugs or ear muffs. If you are going to be riding the chairlift down the slopes, then you do not want something that is too tight.

Make sure they fit comfortably and will not hurt your ears after wearing them for a few hours.

After taking all these things into consideration, you can now go shopping for your ear protection for snowboarding event with confidence knowing that you will find what you are looking for.

NRR Rating.

NRR Rating is an important thing to consider for ear plugs. If you are going to a snowboarding event, then you are probably going to want the best protection for your hearing that you can get.

Different brands of hearing protection offer different levels of protection.

At NNR of 33, this hearing protection meets the standard required by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Size.

Size is the second thing that you need to consider before you make a selection of ear plugs. There are several sizes available to you when you buy the ear plugs.

If you want to make sure that they fit snugly and do not fall out while you are on your snowboarding adventure, then I would recommend getting the smaller sized earplugs. The smaller sizes will also help your ears get used to them if it is your first time wearing them.

Cost.

Cost is one of the biggest concerns that most people have for protecting their hearing. There are several types of devices and earplugs available for you to purchase.

Some will offer you hearing protection and others will offer both noise reduction and comfort.

Before buying any types of earplugs, make sure that they suit your needs and will give you the functionality that you need.

Comfort.

Comfort is one of the most important things that you need to consider before purchasing any type of hearing protection for snowboarding event.

If your ear plugs are not comfortable, then they will be very painful if worn for a long period time, so try them out before purchasing them so you can see if they fit okay.

They need to be lightweight and should not be too bulky. They can even be comfortable enough that you forget they are there.

Comfort is another important factor for earmuffs. You do not want something that is too heavy or uncomfortable, so check the weight before you purchase them and see if they will fit tight enough around your head without causing discomfort.

Conclusion.

So, to conclude all of this, prevention is better than cure. It is recommended that you protect your ears from the start, if you know that the environment will be too loud or to cold for a long period.

Your ears are very sensitive and, once damaged, it will not be easy to repair it. As a result, you could end up with permanent hearing loss or, in very rare cases, you could end up with sudden hearing loss.

Please Note: Just because an ear defender is marked, for example, "Gunshot" - it will still cover other things, like "explosions"