Isn’t pizza interesting? As long as a few criteria 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 a hard time hearing sound, it’s still hearing loss regardless of whether it’s due to genetic factors, age, blockages, or exposure to loud noise.
Minimizing the damage is the first thing you should do when confronted with hearing loss of any variety. You can, after all, take some simple steps to limit additional damage and safeguard your ears.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
Did you wash behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene lessons you learn, or should have learned, right? But it’s inside of your ears that we’re concerned with here, when it comes to hearing health, not the back of your ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Your risk of developing an ear infection is elevated if your ears aren’t kept clean and that can lead to swelling which will impede your hearing. Your hearing will normally go back to normal after the infection clears.
- When wax buildup becomes significant, it can prevent soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. Because of this, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This might make it seem as if your hearing is diminishing.
A cotton swab is definitely not the best tool to use to get any earwax that you may have noticed out and is strongly discouraged. In most circumstances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause added harm. Over-the-counter ear drops are recommended instead.
Tip 2: Really loud noises should be averted
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be on this list. The problem is that the majority of people are hard-pressed to characterize what a “loud noise” really is. A highway, for instance, can be noisy enough that over a long time period, it can damage your ears. Your ears can also be harmed by frequent usage of your lawn mower. As you can tell, it’s not just blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are a few ways to avoid loud, harmful noises.:
- Wearing hearing protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Do you work on a loud industrial floor? It’s okay if you want to attend that rock concert. But use the necessary hearing protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
- When decibel levels become dangerously loud, you can utilize an app on your phone to alert you.
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos, keep your headphone volume at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in alert.
There’s a slow development to hearing loss that’s due to loud sound. So, even if your hearing “feels” fine after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. 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, get it treated
In most instances, hearing loss accumulates slowly over an extended period of time. So, the earlier 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 important. Your hearing will be in the best situation if you get treatment and follow through with it.
Treatment works like this:
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by using hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. This will counter further noise-related damage.
- We will help you stay clear of further damage to your ears by providing you with personalized instructions when you come in for a consultation.
- Hearing loss-related health conditions that are worsened by social isolation and brain strain can be prevented by using hearing aids.
Limit hearing loss – it will benefit you in the long run
While we know that hearing loss can’t be cured, hearing specialists are working hard to limit additional damage to your hearing. Treatment of hearing loss is usually one of the primary approaches to that. The right treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and stop it from worsening.
You’re taking the appropriate steps to minimize hearing loss and put yourself in the best situation to continue to have healthy hearing if you practice good hygiene, use ear protection, and come see us for regular hearing exams.