Pizza is a fascinating thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can switch toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s a lot like hearing loss. Symptoms and presentations are caused by a number of different problems, loud noises, genetics, age, or ear obstructions, but as long as you have difficulty hearing sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Frequently, when you’re facing hearing loss (regardless of the variety), the first thing you need to do is try to minimize the damage. There are, after all, some basic measures you can take to safeguard your ears and minimize added hearing loss.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those childhood hygiene lessons you learn, or should have learned, right? With regards to hearing health, we aren’t worried about the places behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Sound waves going to your ears can be impeded when a significant amount of earwax builds up. When this happens you won’t be able to hear as well.
- Unclean ears increase your risk of developing an ear infection, which causes inflammation that when severe enough, disrupts your ability to hear. Your hearing will normally go back to normal when the infection is gone.
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This may give you the impression that your hearing is going.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s definitely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most situations, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional harm. As an alternative, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Avoid loud sounds that could contribute to hearing loss
This is so obvious that it kind of goes without saying. The issue is that the majority of people are hard-pressed to determine what a “loud noise” actually is. For instance, freeway driving can be loud enough to harm your ears over a long period of time. The motor on your lawnmower can be very taxing on your ears, also. Clearly, other things besides rock concerts or blaring speakers can damage your ears.
Here are a number of ways to avoid loud, harmful noises.:
- Wearing hearing protection when noisy settings are unavoidable. Are you working on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s awesome. But you need to use the appropriate ear protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer adequate protection.
- When you’re listening to tunes or watching videos, keep your headphone volume at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when volumes get to hazardous thresholds.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate gradually. So don’t just assume that your hearing is okay after a noisy event, even if it feels fine. We can only help you determine if you have hearing loss if you call for an appointment.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to protect against further damage. When it comes to hearing loss, that’s why treatment is so essential. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible condition.
Treatment works like this:
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health conditions.
- Some, but not all damage can be avoided by wearing hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking the volume of your television up so loud it becomes harmful. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
- We will help you avoid further damage to your ears by providing you with personalized guidance when you come in for a consultation.
Limit hearing loss – it will benefit you over the long haul
While we know that hearing loss can’t be cured, hearing specialists are working hard to limit further harm to your hearing. Treatment of hearing loss is usually one of the primary approaches to that. Your current level of hearing will be preserved and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the correct treatment.
When you use hearing protection, maintain good hygiene, and get hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the correct steps to minimize hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the years to come.