Pizza is an interesting thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can adjust toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s a lot like hearing loss. But as long as you have difficulty hearing sound, it’s still hearing loss whether it’s caused by genetic factors, age, blockages, or exposure to loud noise.
Normally, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (no matter the variety), the first thing you need to do is attempt to limit the damage. There are, after all, some simple measures you can take to protect your hearing and limit further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
When you were younger, you most likely were taught that you need to wash behind your ears. With regards to hearing health, we aren’t worried about the places behind your ears, but rather inside of your ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can improve your hearing in several different ways:
- Unkempt ears raise your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that when severe enough, impedes your hearing. Your hearing will usually return to normal after the infection is gone.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This could make it seem as though your hearing is diminishing.
- When wax buildup becomes significant, it can block soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. As a result, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s definitely not suggested that you poke around in there with a cotton swab. In most circumstances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause added harm. Alternatively, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Really loud noises should be avoided
This one is so instinctive it practically shouldn’t be on the list. But what exactly constitutes a “loud sound”? For example, highway travel can be loud enough to damage your ears over a long amount of time. The engine on your lawnmower can be very taxing on your ears, as well. As you can see, it isn’t only blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are some ways to steer clear of loud, damaging noises.:
- When decibel levels become dangerously loud, you can make use of an app on your phone to alert you.
- When you’re listening to tunes or watching videos, keep the volume of your headphones at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
- Wearing hearing protection when loud settings are necessary. Do you work on a loud industrial floor? It’s okay if you want to attend that rock concert. Just wear the required hearing protection. You can get enough protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate gradually. So don’t simply presume that your hearing is fine after a noisy event, even if it feels fine. Only if you come in for a hearing exam can we give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, deal with it
In most instances, hearing loss develops slowly over a long period of time. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to protect against additional damage. In terms of hearing loss, that’s why treatment is so essential. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible situation.
Treatment works like this:
- We will help you avoid further damage to your ears by supplying you with individualized guidance when you come in for an assessment.
- Hearing aids reduce the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health conditions.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. If you’re using hearing aids, for instance, you won’t always need to turn volumes up to harmful levels. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also stop further degeneration of your hearing.
Over the long haul, you will be helped by using hearing aids
Although we’re not able to cure hearing loss, we are doing hard work to help you prevent further damage. In many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the main ways to achieve that. Your current level of hearing will be protected and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the correct treatment.
When you wear hearing protection, maintain good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the proper measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the years to come.