Pizza is a fascinating thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can change toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. That’s similar to hearing loss. Symptoms and presentations are caused by many different problems, loud noises, genetics, age, or ear blockages, but as long as you have difficulty hearing sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Frequently, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (regardless of the variety), the first thing you need to do is attempt to limit the damage. You can, after all, take some basic steps to limit further damage and safeguard your ears.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
When you were younger, you likely were taught that you need to wash behind your ears. When it comes to hearing health, we aren’t worried about the parts behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Your risk of getting an ear infection is increased 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 normal hearing will normally return (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
- When wax buildup becomes significant, it can stop soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. When this happens you won’t be capable of hearing as well.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This could make you think that your hearing is going.
A cotton swab is absolutely not the best tool to use to clear any earwax that you may have noticed out and is strongly discouraged. In most situations, a cotton swab will worsen the problem or cause added harm. Over-the-counter ear drops are encouraged instead.
Tip 2: Steer clear of loud sounds that could cause hearing loss
This one is so instinctive it practically shouldn’t be on the list. The issue is that most individuals are hard-pressed to determine what a “loud noise” really is. A freeway, for example, can be noisy enough that over a long time period, it can harm your ears. The motor on your lawnmower can be pretty taxing on your ears, as well. As you can tell, it isn’t just blasting speakers or raucous rock concerts that harm your ears.
Some practical ways to stay away from harmful noises include:
- Wearing hearing protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Do you work on the floor of a loud factory? It’s fine if you want to go to that rock concert. Just wear the necessary ear protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
- Refraining from turning the volume up on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. The majority of phones include built-in alerts when you’re nearing a hazardous limit.
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels reach unsafe levels.
There’s a gradual advancement to hearing loss that’s a result of loud sound. So don’t simply presume that your hearing is fine 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: If you have any hearing loss, deal with it
In most instances, hearing loss develops slowly over an extended period of time. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent further damage. That’s why treatment is extremely important in terms of minimizing hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Some, but not all damage can be avoided by using hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will stop you from cranking the volume of your television up so loud it harms your ears. This will counter further noise-related damage.
- We will help you avoid additional damage to your ears by providing you with personalized guidance when you come in for a consultation.
- Hearing loss-related health problems that are worsened by social solitude and brain strain can be prevented by wearing hearing aids.
Minimize hearing loss – it will help you over the long haul
While it’s true that hearing loss has no cure, hearing specialists are focused on limiting further harm to your ears. In many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the primary ways to accomplish that. The correct treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and stop it from getting worse.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the correct steps to prevent hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come.