Pizza is an interesting thing. You can change the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and presentations are a consequence of many different issues – loud noises, genetic factors, age, ear blockages – but as long as you have difficulty detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Restricting the damage is normally the first step to take when you start to notice hearing loss. This is just one simple step you can take to safeguard your hearing from further harm.
Tip 1: Clean your Ears
Remember when your mom used to always ask “did you wash behind your ears”? But with regards to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re interested in.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- After a while, untreated hearing loss affects your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- When wax accumulation becomes significant, it can block sound waves from reaching your inner ear. Your hearing becomes jeopardized as a result.
- If you use hearing aids, earwax will also interfere with their functionality. This may make it seem as though your hearing is worsening.
- Your ability to hear can be obstructed by inflammation which is caused by severe ear infection as a result of unclean ears. When your ear infection clears, your normal hearing will typically come back.
You should never attempt to use a cotton swab to dig out earwax. In most situations, a cotton swab will make things even worse or cause additional damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Loud noise that could result in hearing loss should be avoided
This one is so intuitive it almost doesn’t need to be on this list. The issue is that most individuals are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” really is. It’s not just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your hearing, highway driving can be loud enough to harm your ears over a long period of time. Your ears can also be compromised by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And when you’re out remembering the 4th of July, be careful to safeguard your ears!
Some practical ways to avoid damaging noises include:
- Using hearing protection when noisy conditions are unavoidable. If you want to go to a loud rock concert or if you work in a loud factory that’s fine but don’t forget your hearing protection. You can get enough protection from modern earplugs and earmuffs.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach hazardous levels.
- When you’re watching movies or listening to music, keep the headphone volume down. When you’re listening at hazardous volumes, most phones have built-in alerts.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will accumulate slowly. So, even if your hearing “feels” good after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing specialist can give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
Hearing loss typically builds over time. So you’ll be better able to prevent further damage if you catch it early. So when it comes to hearing loss, this is why having it treated is so crucial. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- We will help you avoid further damage by supplying you with customized advice and instructions.
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will stop you from turning your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. Because hearing aids stop this damage, they can also prevent further deterioration of your hearing.
- Brain strain, social isolation, and other hearing loss-related health issues can be prevented by hearing aids.
In the long run you will be benefited by wearing hearing aids
Treatment is one of the main ways to prevent hearing loss in spite of the fact that there is no cure. Treating your hearing loss properly will stop further damage while maintaining your current degree of hearing.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and engage in hearing loss treatment with a hearing specialist, you’re taking the best steps to control hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come!