Isn’t pizza fascinating? As long as a few factors are met, you can switch toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and presentations are caused by numerous different issues, loud noises, genetic factors, age, or ear blockages, but as long as you have a hard time hearing sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is the first step you should take when confronted with hearing loss of any type. You can, after all, take some simple steps to limit further damage and protect your ears.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
When you were a kid, you likely learned that you need to clean behind your ears. But it’s your inner ears that we’re worried about here, when it comes to hearing health, not behind your ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax accumulation can improve your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Unclean ears raise your chances of developing an ear infection, which creates inflammation that when significant enough, impedes your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears, your regular hearing will usually come back (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This might make you think that your hearing is going.
- When wax buildup becomes substantial, it can prevent soundwaves from getting into your inner ear. When this takes place you won’t be capable of hearing as well.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not recommended that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can cause damage and will almost always worsen the situation. As an alternative, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Avoid loud noises that could contribute to hearing loss
This one is so instinctive it practically shouldn’t be on this list. The issue is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” really is. A freeway, for example, can be noisy enough that over an extended period of time, it can harm your ears. Your ears can also be harmed by frequent usage of your lawn mower. As you can tell, it isn’t just blasting speakers or raucous rock concerts that harm your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid harmful noises include:
- When decibel levels become dangerously loud, you can make use of an app on your phone to alert you.
- When you have to be in a loud environment, utilize hearing protection. Are you working on a loud industrial floor? It’s okay if you want to go to that rock concert. But wear the necessary hearing protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer sufficient protection.
- When you’re listening to tunes or watching videos, keep the volume of your headphones at safe levels. Most phones offer built-in warnings when you’re approaching a dangerous threshold.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate gradually. So, even if your hearing “feels” okay 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: Treat any hearing loss you might have
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the sooner you recognize the damage, the better you’ll be able to stop added damage. That’s why treatment is tremendously important when it comes to minimizing hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible situation.
Treatment works like this:
- We will help you stay clear of additional damage to your ears by supplying you with personalized guidance when you come in for an assessment.
- Hearing loss-related health conditions that are exacerbated by social solitude and brain strain can be prevented by wearing hearing aids.
- Some, but not all damage can be stopped by using hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further deterioration of your hearing.
Over the long haul, you will be helped by wearing hearing aids
While we know that hearing loss has no cure, hearing specialists are focused on limiting additional damage to your hearing. In many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the primary ways to achieve that. Your current level of hearing will be protected and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the proper treatment.
When you use hearing protection, maintain good hygiene, and get hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the proper measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come.
