Isn’t pizza fascinating? As long as a few criteria are met, you can alter toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and manifestations are caused by a number of different issues, loud noises, genetic factors, age, or ear obstructions, but as long as you have difficulty hearing sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is the first step you should take when facing hearing loss of any type. 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 worried about the parts behind your ears, but rather inside of your ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in a variety of different ways:
- When wax accumulation becomes substantial, it can block soundwaves from getting into your inner ear. When this happens you won’t be capable of hearing as well.
- Unclean ears raise your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that when severe enough, interferes with your ability to hear. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will normally come back (but that’s something you should consult a doctor about).
- Earwax buildup also interferes with the functionality of your hearing aid if you use one. This may make it seem as though your hearing is worsening.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not recommended that you poke around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can lead to damage and will usually worsen the situation. Over-the-counter ear drops are recommended as an alternative.
Tip 2: Really loud noises should be avoided
This one is so instinctive it practically shouldn’t be on this list. The problem is that the majority of people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. A highway, for example, can be noisy enough that over a long period of time, it can harm your ears. Your ears can also be damaged by regular usage of your lawn mower. Clearly, other things besides rock concerts or blaring speakers can damage your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid damaging noises include:
- When you’re listening to tunes or watching videos, keep the volume of your headphones 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 get to dangerous levels.
- When you have to be in a noisy environment, use hearing protection. Do you work on the floor of a noisy factory? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. Just use the necessary hearing protection. You can get enough protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will accumulate gradually. So, even if your hearing “feels” okay after a noisy event, that doesn’t mean it is. We can only help you find out if you have hearing loss if you call for an appointment.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
In most cases, hearing loss accumulates gradually over a long time period. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to stop added damage. That’s why treatment is extremely important when it comes to limiting 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 can stop some, but not all, damage. If you’re wearing hearing aids, for instance, you won’t always have to turn volumes up to harmful levels. This will prevent further noise-related damage.
- Hearing loss-related health conditions that are exacerbated by social solitude and brain strain can be prevented by wearing hearing aids.
- When you come in for a consultation we will provide individualized instructions and advice to help you avoid further damage to your ears.
In the long run, you will be benefited by wearing hearing aids
Despite the fact that we’re not able to cure hearing loss, we are putting in hard work to help you prevent further damage. Treatment of hearing loss is typically one of the best approaches to that. The correct treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and prevent it from worsening.
You’re taking the correct steps to minimize hearing loss and put yourself in the best position to continue to have healthy hearing if you practice good hygiene, use ear protection, and come see us for regular hearing exams.