Diwali is about light, sweets and family, but the days around it bring a sharp rise in ear, nose and throat complaints. Firecrackers produce sudden loud sound and a thick cloud of smoke, and both can affect your body more than most people expect. fig 1. Diwali Ear Safety Guide How crackers affect your ears A single loud blast can be enough to damage the delicate hair cells inside the inner ear. Sounds above about 85 decibels can harm hearing with repeated exposure, and many c