Isn’t pizza interesting? As long as a few criteria are met, you can switch toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s a lot like hearing loss. But as long as you have trouble hearing sound, it’s still hearing loss regardless of whether it’s caused by genetic factors, age, obstructions, or exposure to loud noise.
Limiting the damage is the first thing you should do when facing hearing loss of any variety. There are, after all, some simple measures you can take to safeguard your ears and limit additional hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
When you were younger, you likely learned that you need to clean behind your ears. But it’s inside of your ears that we’re concerned with here, regarding hearing health, not behind your ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can improve your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Your chance of developing an ear infection is elevated if your ears aren’t kept clean and that can cause swelling which will interfere with your hearing. When your ear infection goes away, your regular hearing will usually come back (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
- When wax accumulation becomes significant, it can block soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. Because of this, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This could give you the impression that your hearing is starting to fail.
A cotton swab is definitely not the correct tool to use to get any earwax that you may have noticed out and is strongly discouraged. In most situations, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. 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. The issue is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. A freeway, for example, can be noisy enough that over an extended period of time, it can damage your ears. Your ears can also be harmed by frequent use of your lawn mower. Clearly, other things besides rock concerts or blaring speakers can damage your ears.
Some practical ways to stay away from damaging noises include:
- Abstaining from turning up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
- Using hearing protection when noisy settings are necessary. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s awesome. But wear the necessary ear protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
- Using an app on your phone to let you know when decibel levels reach hazardous thresholds.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate slowly. So don’t simply assume that your hearing is okay after a loud event, even if it feels fine. Only if you come in and see us can we give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you might have
Generally speaking, hearing loss is progressive. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid additional damage. That’s why treatment is extremely important in terms of limiting hearing loss. Your hearing will be in the best situation if you get treatment and implement it.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health conditions.
- We will help you avoid further damage to your ears by supplying you with individualized instructions when you come in for a consultation.
- Some, but not all damage can be stopped by using hearing aids. For example, hearing aids will stop you from turning your television volume up so loud it becomes harmful. This will prevent further noise-related damage.
In the long run, you will be benefited by using hearing aids
Although we can’t cure hearing loss, we are putting in hard work to help you minimize additional damage. In many circumstances, 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 proper treatment.
You’re taking the correct measures to minimize hearing loss and put yourself in the best situation to continue to have healthy hearing if you practice good hygiene, use ear protection, and come see us for regular hearing tests.
