Dr. Sreek Cherukuri is interviewed at ABC Chicago about managing exposure to loud fireworks and how it’s crucial to protect your ears from the loud noises of fireworks, which can reach up to 150 decibels and cause permanent hearing damage.
Dr. Cherukuri advises staying several hundred feet away from fireworks and using earplugs, which are inexpensive and can reduce noise by up to 32 decibels.
He emphasizes the importance of ear protection for children and suggests that adults seek medical attention if they experience ringing or muffled hearing.
He notes that after the 4th of July, there is often an increase in patients with tinnitus, highlighting the importance of taking preventive measures.
For elderly family members, who may already have hearing difficulties, Dr. Cherukuri recommends a new FDA-registered device called the Clearcast PAL™, which enhances conversation and minimizes background noise, allowing them to better participate in family gatherings.
Transcript
Liz Nagy: A very important reminder as we approach the 4th of July holiday later this week, if you plan to watch or set off any fireworks, make sure to protect your ears, especially if you’re in close range. It only takes a few fireworks over the course of an evening to cause damage or trigger tinnitus, or ringing of the ears.
Samantha Chatman: Dr. Sreek Cherukuri joins us now with some advice on protecting your ears as you enjoy the lights in the sky. Good morning to you. Thank you so much for being here with us.
Dr. Cherukuri: Good morning. Thanks for having me.
Samantha Chatman: Do you think that this is something that people don’t tend to think about?
Dr. Cherukuri: Certainly, Fourth of July, we’re thinking about celebrating, and a big part of that is fireworks.
And fireworks are up to 150 decibels loud. And noise induced hearing loss can be instantaneous and permanent, so we do recommend people be aware. And try to take some very simple precautions to prevent this permanent hearing loss.
Liz Nagy: I am one of those people. I love fireworks.
So how close do you have to be to, to have any of this damage?
Or what’s a safe distance to protect your ears?
Dr. Cherukuri: So, I mean, at three feet is where we’re talking about for the 150 decibels. And that can be permanent, instantaneous nerve damage. So what we recommend is several hundred feet away. A really simple thing to do. Is earplugs.
Liz Nagy: Earplugs. All right. If you get ’em
Dr. Cherukuri: at any drug store, they’re a couple bucks for a big bottle and they will reduce the amount of noise entering your ear by up to 32 decibels to make it safe so you can still enjoy the visual and even you’ll still hear and feel the fireworks in a safe manner.
Samantha Chatman: Alright? So just keep ’em in your pocket and have ’em ready to go.
Dr. Cherukuri: Yeah. If you’re throwing a party, have, have a bottle with you.
Samantha Chatman: And pass them out to your, your friends,
Dr. Cherukuri: especially for Children. Their ears are particularly sensitive. So either earmuffs or keep them away. And then another tip we tell people is listen to your body.
If you feel ringing or tinnitus in your ear, if you feel muffled hearing, you should leave the situation and let it recover. A lot of those can recover. But if the next day you’re feeling muffled hearing or anything like that, you should get checked out.
Liz Nagy: Earplugs almost seem, not silly, but just like a minor precaution that you can take.
But how much is it really helping you, if you’re even at a community fireworks display?
Dr. Cherukuri: So those, again, you’re out more than 500 feet away, those I think you’re okay. But if you feel like it’s too loud, it’s the easiest, most inexpensive solution to helping stay safe.
Samantha Chatman: And how can you help some of our elderly relatives during this time?
Because they want to be able to experience it. Experience the lights and, and the festivities as well, but they might be, I’m assuming, more sensitive.
Dr. Cherukuri: Right. So elderly, it’s actually a slightly different problem is family gatherings 4th of July, very common. And we all, at least I do have family members that have trouble hearing you have to repeat yourself, you know, they might have the TV on really loud and things like that.
And this new product out in the market that I’ve been. Recommending to my patients called Clearcast. I’m actually wearing one now. It’s a headphone, but it’s an FDA registered medical device that helps people with hearing loss hear and enjoy the dinner conversations and listen to the TV and just participate in the family gatherings. without having to w
Liz Nagy: So amplifies the good sound drowns out some of the stuff that you don’t need to be hearing.
Dr. Cherukuri: That’s exactly right. And it’s brand new on the market. I’ve been recommending it to patients and it’s really brought families together.
Liz Nagy: I’m a little curious. Um, do you often see after the fireworks as, as an ear, nose and throat doctor after 4th of July, do you see an increase in patients coming to see you for tinnitus?
Dr. Cherukuri: We do like definitely at least one a year. It’s unfortunate. The firework exploded too close to them. You know, young, young adult having fun. And it’s It’s sad because it is permanent hearing loss and we don’t have a cure for it.
Samantha Chatman: Oh my goodness. Well, we appreciate you for coming and breaking all this down.
Again, these are things that are not always top of mind. Liz and I, we might take some. I know.
Dr. Cherukuri: So earplugs for the fireworks. Clear cast for the family members that are having trouble.
Samantha Chatman: Slip them in your pocket. Good to go. Super easy. Alrighty. Appreciate you. And we have more details about today’s hearing protection segment and the things that you can do to keep yourself safe.
Head over to our website. at abc7chicago.com