Pizza is an interesting thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can change toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s a lot like hearing loss. But as long as you have a hard time hearing sound, it’s still hearing loss whether it’s due to genetic factors, age, blockages, or exposure to loud noise.
Normally, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (regardless of the variety), the first thing you need to do is attempt to minimize the damage. You can, after all, take some basic steps to limit additional damage and protect your ears.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those childhood hygiene lessons you learn, or should have learned, right? In terms of hearing health, we’re not concerned with the parts behind your ears, but rather inside of your ears.
There are a number of ways that earwax buildup can impact your hearing:
- Your risk of getting an ear infection is elevated if your ears aren’t kept clean and that can lead to inflammation which will interfere with your hearing. When your ear infection clears, your normal hearing will normally come back (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
- Sound waves going to your ears can be blocked when a significant amount of earwax accumulates. Because of this, your ability to hear becomes decreased.
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This could make you think that your hearing is going.
If you find earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not suggested that you poke around in there with a cotton swab. In most situations, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional harm. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Stay away from loud sounds that could result in hearing loss
This is so evident that it sort of goes without saying. But what precisely constitutes a “loud sound”? A freeway, for example, can be loud enough that over a long period of time, it can damage your ears. The motor on your lawnmower can be very straining on your ears, also. As you can tell, it’s not only blaring speakers or raucous rock concerts that damage your ears.
Here are some ways to steer clear of loud, harmful noises.:
- Using an app on your phone to let you know when decibel levels get to unsafe thresholds.
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos, keep the volume of your headphones at safe levels. The majority of phones offer built-in alerts when you’re approaching a dangerous limit.
- When you have to be in a loud setting, utilize hearing protection. Do you work on the floor of a noisy factory? It’s okay if you want to attend that rock concert. But you need to use the correct hearing protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs supply adequate protection.
There’s a gradual development to hearing loss that’s due to loud sound. So, even if your hearing “feels” fine after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only if you come in and see us can we give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, deal with it
Generally speaking, hearing loss is progressive. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid further damage. That’s why treatment is extremely important in terms of limiting hearing loss. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Hearing aids reduce the brain strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health conditions.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. If you’re using hearing aids, for example, you won’t always need to turn volumes up to damaging levels. This will counter further noise-related damage.
- We will help you stay clear of further damage to your ears by providing you with individualized guidance when you come in for a consultation.
Minimize hearing loss – it will help you in the long run
While it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, hearing specialists are focused on limiting further damage to your ears. In many instances, hearing loss treatment is one of the primary ways to accomplish that. Your current level of hearing will be maintained and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the correct treatment.
You’re taking the proper steps to prevent hearing loss and put yourself in the best position to continue to have healthy hearing if you practice good hygiene, utilize ear protection, and come see us for regular hearing tests.