Pizza is an interesting thing. You can change the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses concerned, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is also like this. Symptoms and presentations are due to many different issues – loud noises, genetics, age, ear blockages – but as long as you have trouble detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is normally the first step to take when you start to detect hearing loss. There are, after all, some basic steps you can take to protect your ears and limit further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Clean your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those original hygiene instructions you learn (or should have learned), right? When it involves hearing health, we aren’t concerned with the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a few different ways:
- Untidy ears increase your risk of developing an ear infection, which causes inflammation that, when significant enough, impedes your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears up, your normal hearing will typically return.
- Your brain and your ability to interpret sounds can be impacted over time by untreated hearing loss.
- Sound waves will have a more difficult time getting into your inner ear if you have substantial accumulation. As a result, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
- If you wear hearing aids, earwax will also impede their functionality. If this happens you may think that your hearing is getting even worse.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can jam the earwax further up into the ear canal and can cause even more harm. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Try to avoid loud noises that could result in hearing loss
This one should be pretty intuitive. But determining what comprises “loud sound” is not easy for most individuals. it isn’t 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. The motor on your lawnmower can be pretty taxing on your ears also. And, be careful to protect your hearing during those 4th of July fireworks!
Here are a few practical ways to avoid noise damage:
- When you’re streaming movies or listening to tunes, keep the headphone volume down. Most cellphones have built-in warnings when you’re nearing a hazardous threshold.
- Using hearing protection when noisy conditions are not avoidable. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s cool. Just wear the correct hearing protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer ample protection.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach dangerous thresholds.
So if you go to a loud event and your hearing feels fine after, that doesn’t mean it is, because hearing loss is often a slow progression. Your hearing can only be properly assessed by a hearing specialist.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, get it treated
Hearing loss typically accumulates over time. So you’ll be better able to avoid further damage if you catch it early. So when it comes to hearing loss, this is the reason why getting it treated is so crucial. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Treatment works like this:
- Hearing aids prevent the mental strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health issues.
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by hearing aids. With a hearing aid, you’re unlikely to turn the tv up to damaging volumes. Because hearing aids stop this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
- We will provide personalized instructions and guidance to help you avoid further damage to your hearing.
Minimize hearing loss – it will benefit you in the long run
While it’s true that there’s no cure for hearing loss, in many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the principal ways to prevent it. Treating your hearing loss appropriately will prevent further damage while protecting your present level of hearing.
In the years to come you will be giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing if you get hearing loss treatment from us, use hearing protection, and practice quality hygiene!