Pizza is an interesting thing. You can change the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. As long as you are having trouble hearing sound, whether it’s caused by an obstruction, age, loud noise, or anything else, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is normally the first step to take when you begin to detect hearing loss. There are, after all, some easy measures you can take to protect your ears and minimize further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
Remember when your parents used to always ask “did you clean behind your ears”? But with regards to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re worried about.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- If you wear hearing aids, earwax will also interfere with their operation. If this happens you might think that your hearing is getting even worse.
- After a while, neglected hearing loss affects your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- Untidy ears boost your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes swelling that, when significant enough, interferes with your ability to hear. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will usually come back.
- When wax buildup becomes substantial, it can stop sound waves from reaching your inner ear. Your hearing becomes jeopardized as a result.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not recommended that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can jam the earwax further up into the ear canal and can cause even more harm. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Loud noise that could lead to hearing loss should be avoided
This one is so intuitive it almost doesn’t need to be on the list. The challenge is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” really is. There are many hazards to your hearing in everyday life and that includes things as common as driving on a noisy highway every day over long periods. Your ears can also be damaged by things like your lawn mower engine. And when you’re out celebrating the 4th of July, be careful to safeguard your hearing!
Here are a few practical ways to avoid noise damage:
- Avoid cranking the volume up on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. Most cellphones feature built-in alerts when you’re getting close to a dangerous level.
- When decibel levels get too loud, you can use an app on your phone to let you know.
- Using hearing protection when loud situations are inescapable. If you want to attend a loud rock concert or if you work in a loud factory that’s fine but remember your ear protection. You can get plenty of protection from modern earplugs and earmuffs.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate gradually. So, even if your hearing “seems” fine after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing specialist can let you know if you have hearing loss.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid further damage. That’s why treatment is very essential when it comes to restricting hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health problems.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will stop you from turning your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further deterioration of your hearing.
- We will help you avoid further damage by providing you with individualized advice and guidelines.
Limit hearing loss – it will help you in the long run
Treatment is one of the primary ways to prevent hearing loss in spite of the fact that there’s no cure. Treating your hearing loss appropriately will stop further damage while protecting your current level of hearing.
When you use hearing protection, practice quality hygiene, and engage in hearing loss treatment with a hearing specialist, you’re taking the correct steps to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come!
