Pizza is a fascinating thing. You can switch up the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses concerned, but as long as it meets a few basic criteria, it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is also like this. As long as you are having a hard time hearing sound, whether it’s due to an obstruction, age, loud noise, or whatever else, it’s still hearing loss.
Restricting the damage is normally the first step to take when you start to detect hearing loss. This is only one basic step you can take to safeguard your hearing from further harm.
Tip 1: Clean your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? But in terms of 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 buildups can help your hearing in a few different ways:
- Your brain and your ability to decipher sounds can be impacted over time by neglected hearing loss.
- Your ability to hear can be obstructed by swelling which is caused by severe ear infection as a result of unclean ears. Your normal hearing will typically return when then the infection clears up.
- When wax accumulation becomes significant, it can stop sound waves from getting into your inner ear. Your hearing becomes jeopardized as a result.
- Earwax accumulation also disrupts the operation of your hearing aid if you have one. If this happens you may think that your hearing is getting even worse.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can push the earwax further up into the ear canal and can trigger even more harm. You can buy earwax removal drops over-the-counter at your local drugstore which work better and are safer than swabs.
Tip 2: Try to avoid loud noises that could lead to hearing loss
This one should be fairly intuitive. The problem is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. There are many dangers to your hearing in day-to-day life and that includes things as common as driving on a loud highway every day over long periods. Your ears can also be compromised by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And when you’re out celebrating the 4th of July, be mindful to protect your hearing!
Some useful ways to avoid damaging noises include:
- When you’re watching movies or listening to tunes, keep the headphone volume down. Most cellphones have built-in alerts when you’re nearing a hazardous threshold.
- When volume levels get too high, you can use an app on your phone to let you know.
- Wearing ear protection when loud environments are not avoidable. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s fine. Just use the necessary hearing protection. You can get plenty of protection from modern earplugs and earmuffs.
So if you go to a noisy event and your hearing feels fine after, that doesn’t mean it is, because hearing loss is often a gradual progression. Only a hearing specialist can give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So you’ll be in a better position to prevent further damage if you catch it early. That’s why treatment is incredibly important when it comes to limiting hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- We will give you personalized instructions and guidance to help you avoid further damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. With a hearing aid, you’re unlikely to turn up the tv to damaging volumes. Because hearing aids stop this damage, they can also prevent further deterioration of your hearing.
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health problems.
Limit hearing loss – it will help you in the long run
While it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, in many situations, hearing loss treatment is one of the principal ways to prevent it. Treating your hearing loss correctly will prevent further damage while maintaining your present degree of hearing.
In the years to come you will be providing yourself with the best opportunity for healthy hearing if you get hearing loss treatment from us, use hearing protection, and practice good hygiene!