Typically, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (no matter the type), the first thing you should do is attempt to limit the damage. After all, you can take some simple steps to prevent additional damage and protect your ears.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Remember learning to be certain you clean behind your ears when you learned general hygiene (or at least should have learned). With regards to hearing health, though, we aren’t worried about the areas behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in several distinctive ways:
- Untidy ears increase your chances of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that (when severe enough) interferes with your ability to hear. Your hearing will return to normal after the ear infection clears.
- Sound can be blocked from reaching the inner ear when there’s too much wax accumulation. As a result, your ability to hear becomes weakened.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will inevitably be impacted by neglected hearing loss.
- Earwax accumulation also interferes with the functionality of your hearing aid if you use one. This could make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
If you observe earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not recommended that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Additional damage can be caused by cotton swabs and they will often worsen your ability to hear. Over the counter ear drops are a better decision.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so intuitive. But knowing how loud is too loud is the real difficulty for most individuals. Over an extended period of time, for instance, your hearing can be damaged by driving on a busy freeway. Your lawnmower motor can be pretty taxing on your ears, too. As you can see, it’s not just blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are a few ways to stay away from damaging noise:
- When you can’t steer clear of noisy settings, wear hearing protection. Does your job put you on the floor of a loud manufacturing plant? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s fun. Just use the required ear protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs supply ample protection.
- When decibel levels get too high, an app on your phone can alert you of that.
- When you’re watching videos or listening to music keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable level. Most phones include built-in warnings when you’re nearing a dangerous level.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will develop slowly. So, even if your hearing “feels” fine after a noisy event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing specialist can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Loss – Have it Addressed
Hearing impairment accumulates generally speaking. So catching any damage early on will help prevent additional injury. So when it comes to slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so important. Effective treatments (that you follow through with) will put your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s how treatments work:
- The potential of developing hearing loss related health issues is reduced by wearing hearing aids because they prevent social isolation and brain strain.
- We can provide individualized guidance and advice to help you avoid added damage to your hearing.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from turning your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also stop further degeneration of your hearing.
Decreasing Hearing Impairment Will Benefit You in The Long Run
Even though we don’t have a cure for hearing loss, further damage can be avoided with treatment. In many cases, hearing aids are one of the main ways to achieve that. Getting the proper treatment will not only stop additional damage but also keep your current hearing level intact.
When you wear hearing protection, engage in good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the correct measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing in the future.
