Normally, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (no matter the type), the first thing you should do is attempt to limit the damage. There are, after all, some straightforward measures you can take to protect your ears and minimize further hearing loss.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Remember learning to make sure you clean behind your ears when you learned basic hygiene (or at least should have learned). But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about cleaning in terms of hearing health, rather than behind the ears.
Keeping your ears free from wax accumulation can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Your hearing can also be interfered with if you get a severe ear infection which can also be a result of unclean ears. Your hearing will go back to normal after the ear infection clears.
- When wax accumulation becomes substantial, it can stop sound from reaching your inner ear. As a result, your ability to hear becomes weakened.
- Over time, neglected hearing loss can affect your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- Earwax accumulation also interferes with the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. You might end up thinking that your hearing is going downhill because of this.
If you observe earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not advisable that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Additional damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will frequently worsen your ability to hear. Over the counter ear drops are a better decision.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be on the list. The problem is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. For example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your hearing over an extended time period. Also, believe it or not, your lawn mower can take a toll on your hearing. As you can tell, it’s not just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that damage your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid harmful noises include:
- Making use of an app on your phone to warn you when decibel levels get to unsafe thresholds.
- Refraining from turning up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. When hazardous levels are being approached, most phones feature a built in warning.
- Wearing ear protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s great. Just wear the correct hearing protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs provide abundant protection.
Damage to the ears from noise doesn’t happen all of a sudden, it builds up gradually. So, even if your hearing “seems” good after a noisy event, it may not be. You can only get a clean bill of health for your ears by a hearing professional.
Step #3: Address Any Hearing Impairment You Might Have
Hearing loss accumulates generally speaking. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent additional damage. So in terms of stopping hearing loss, treatment is so significant. Your hearing will get the greatest benefit if you find and follow through on effective treatment.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health issues.
- We can give personalized guidance and advice to help you avoid added damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. For instance, hearing aids will stop you from turning your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids counter this damage, they can also stop further deterioration of your hearing.
Decreasing Hearing Loss Will Benefit You in The Long Run
Although it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help prevent additional damage. In many cases, hearing aids are one of the main ways to accomplish that. Getting the proper treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your current hearing level intact.
Your allowing yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing into the future by wearing ear protection, getting the appropriate treatment, and practicing good hearing hygiene.