Pizza is an interesting thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can alter toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s a lot like hearing loss. Symptoms and presentations are caused by numerous different issues, loud noises, genetic factors, age, or ear blockages, but as long as you have difficulty detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Normally, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (no matter the variety), the first thing you need to do is try to limit the damage. You can, after all, take some simple measures to limit additional damage and protect your ears.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
When you were a kid, you most likely learned that you need to wash behind your ears. With regards to hearing health, we aren’t concerned with the areas behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Your chance of developing an ear infection is elevated if your ears aren’t kept clean and that can result in swelling which will impede your hearing. Your hearing will normally go back to normal when the infection clears.
- Sound waves going to your ears can be impeded when a substantial amount of earwax builds up. Consequently, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This may give you the impression that your hearing is going.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not suggested that you poke around in there with a cotton swab. In most cases, a cotton swab will worsen the problem or cause additional damage. Over-the-counter ear drops are recommended as an alternative.
Tip 2: Very loud sounds should be averted
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be on this list. But what exactly constitutes a “loud sound”? A highway, for instance, can be noisy enough that over an extended period of time, it can damage your ears. Your ears can also be damaged by frequent usage of your lawn mower. As you can tell, it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Some useful ways to stay away from harmful noises include:
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos, keep your headphone volume at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach unsafe thresholds.
- Using ear protection when noisy settings are necessary. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s awesome. But you need to use the correct ear protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will accumulate gradually. So don’t just presume that your hearing is fine after a noisy event, even if it feels fine. We can only help you figure out if you have hearing loss if you call for an appointment.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you might have
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid additional damage. That’s why treatment is incredibly important in terms of limiting hearing loss. Your hearing will be in the best position if you get treatment and implement it.
Treatment works like this:
- Hearing loss-related health problems that are exacerbated by social solitude and brain strain can be avoided by wearing hearing aids.
- When you come in and see us we will provide personalized guidance and advice to help you steer clear of additional damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. If you’re wearing hearing aids, for instance, you won’t always need to turn volumes up to damaging levels. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further impairment of your hearing.
Minimize hearing loss – it will help you in the long run
Although we can’t cure hearing loss, we are putting in hard work to help you prevent additional damage. Treatment of hearing loss is typically one of the best approaches to that. The correct treatment will help you preserve your current level of hearing and prevent it from getting worse.
When you use ear protection, practice good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the correct measures to prevent hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the years to come.