The first thing to do, when you begin to identify that you have hearing loss, is to prevent further damage. There are, after all, some simple steps you can take to safeguard your hearing and minimize further hearing loss.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about cleaning in terms of hearing health, not behind the ears.
There are multiple ways that keeping your ears free from wax can help your hearing:
- Sound can be blocked from reaching the inner ear when there’s too much wax buildup. As a result, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
- Earwax buildup also inhibits the functionality of your hearing aid if you have one. You might end up thinking that your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- Unkempt ears raise your chances of developing an ear infection, which leads to inflammation that (when serious enough) impedes your hearing. Your hearing will return to normal after the ear infection clears.
- Your brain and ability to interpret sound will ultimately be impacted by untreated hearing loss.
You never resort to using a cotton swab to attempt to dig out built up earwax. Further damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will frequently make it even harder to hear. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so obvious. The problem is that most individuals aren’t entirely certain what a “loud noise” actually is. As an example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your hearing over an extended time period. Your lawnmower motor can be rather taxing on your ears, as well. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or loud speakers that cause hearing damage.
Here are a few ways to stay away from damaging noise:
- Wearing ear protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Going to see a rock concert? That’s cool. Just wear the necessary hearing protection. A perfect illustration would be earmuffs and earplugs.
- Making use of an app on your phone to notify you when decibel levels get to hazardous thresholds.
- Refraining from cranking up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. Most phones have built-in alerts when you’re approaching a dangerous level.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will build up gradually. So if you’ve attended a loud event, you may have done damage even if you don’t realize it. You can only get a clean bill of health for your ears by a hearing specialist.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Impairment – Have it Addressed
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So recognizing any damage early on will help prevent additional injury. So in terms of slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so essential. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Hearing aids stop the brain strain and social solitude that exacerbate hearing loss-related health issues.
- Our advice will help you learn to safeguard your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- Some, but not all damage can be avoided by using hearing aids. For example, hearing aids will stop you from cranking your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further decline of your hearing.
You Will be Benefited in The Long Run by Decreasing Hearing Loss
While it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop additional damage. In many cases, hearing aids are one of the main ways to achieve that. The appropriate treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and stop it from getting worse.
When you wear hearing protection, engage in good hygiene, and obtain hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the correct measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come.
