Isn’t pizza great? You can switch up the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses concerned, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. That’s similar to hearing loss. As long as you are having trouble hearing sound, whether it’s a result of an obstruction, age, loud noise, or whatever else, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is usually the first thing to do when you begin to detect hearing loss. There are, after all, some basic measures you can take to safeguard your ears and minimize further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
Remember when your parents used to constantly ask “did you clean behind your ears”? But when it comes to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re interested in.
Your hearing can be helped in a number of ways by keeping your ears free of earwax:
- Your ability to hear can be hampered by inflammation which is caused by severe ear infection as a result of unclean ears. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will usually return.
- If you wear hearing aids, earwax will also impede their operation. If this happens you might think that your hearing is getting even worse.
- After a while, neglected hearing loss impacts your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- Sound waves will have a more difficult time getting into your inner ear if you have significant accumulation. As a result, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most cases, a cotton swab will make things even worse or cause additional damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Try to avoid loud noises that could cause hearing loss
This one should be fairly obvious. The challenge is that most people have no clue what a “loud noise” really is. There are lots of dangers to your hearing in day-to-day life including things as common as driving on a noisy highway every day over long periods. Your ears can also be damaged by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And when you’re out celebrating the 4th of July, be mindful to safeguard your ears!
Here are a few practical ways to eliminate noise damage:
- When volume levels get too high, you can use an app on your phone to alert you.
- Avoid cranking the volume up on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. Most cellphones have built-in alerts when you’re getting close to a harmful threshold.
- When you can’t avoid being in a loud environment, use ear protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s fine. Just wear the necessary hearing protection. Modern earmuffs and earplugs provide ample protection.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will build up gradually. So, even if your hearing “seems” fine after a noisy event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing specialist can give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, get it treated
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid further damage. So in terms of hearing loss, this is why getting it treated is so important. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible state.
Treatment works like this:
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by hearing aids. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Hearing can prevent further deterioration of your hearing by preventing this type of damage.
- We will help you avoid further damage by supplying you with customized advice and guidelines.
- Hearing aids prevent the mental strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health issues.
In the long run you will be benefited by wearing hearing aids
Treatment is one of the primary ways to prevent hearing loss in spite of the fact that there’s no cure. The correct treatment will help you preserve your present degree of hearing and prevent it from getting worse.
When you wear hearing protection, practice quality hygiene, and engage in hearing loss treatment with a hearing specialist, you’re taking the best steps to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing in the years to come!