Isn’t pizza cool? You can switch up the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. That’s similar to hearing loss. Symptoms and manifestations are a consequence of many different problems – loud noises, genetic factors, age, ear obstructions – but as long as you have trouble detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Restricting the damage is usually the first step to take when you start to notice hearing loss. There are, after all, some simple measures you can take to protect your ears and control further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
Remember when your mom used to constantly ask “did you clean behind your ears”? But with regards to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re interested in.
Keeping your ears clear of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Unkempt ears boost your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes swelling that, when significant enough, interferes with your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears up, your normal hearing will typically come back.
- Sound waves will have a more difficult time reaching your inner ear if you have significant buildup. As a result, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
- After a while, untreated hearing loss impacts your brain and your ability to interpret sounds.
- Earwax accumulation also disrupts the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. This may make it seem like your hearing is getting worse.
You should not ever try to use a cotton swab to dig out earwax. In most cases, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. You can get earwax removal drops over-the-counter at your local drugstore which work better and are safer than swabs.
Tip 2: Avoid loud noises that could result in hearing loss
This one should be fairly intuitive. But determining what comprises “loud sound” isn’t very easy for most individuals. There are many dangers to your hearing in everyday 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 your lawn mower engine. And, be careful to safeguard your hearing during those 4th of July fireworks!
Here are a few useful ways to avoid noise damage:
- When you can’t prevent being in a loud environment, wear ear protection. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. Just wear the necessary ear protection. You can get enough protection from modern earplugs and earmuffs.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach dangerous levels.
- When you’re streaming movies or listening to tunes, watch your headphone volume. Most cellphones feature built-in warnings when you’re approaching a harmful level.
So if you go to a noisy event and your hearing seems fine after, that doesn’t mean it is, because hearing loss is usually a gradual progression. Only a hearing specialist can let you know if you have hearing loss.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, have it treated
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So you’ll be in a better position to avoid further harm if you catch it early. So when it comes to hearing loss, this is why having it treated is so important. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible state.
Treatment works like this:
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from turning your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Hearing can prevent further deterioration of your hearing by preventing this kind of damage.
- Brain strain, social isolation, and other hearing loss-related health issues can be prevented by hearing aids.
- We will help you avoid further damage by supplying you with customized advice and guidelines.
Limit hearing loss – it will help you in the long run
Treatment is one of the primary ways to prevent hearing loss despite the fact that there’s no cure. Treating your hearing loss correctly will prevent additional damage while protecting 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!
