The first thing to do, when you start to recognize that you have hearing loss, is to avoid added damage. After all, you can take some simple actions to prevent further damage and safeguard your ears.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those first hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? In terms of hearing health, though, we’re not worried about the areas behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free from wax accumulation can help your hearing in a number of distinctive ways:
- When wax accumulation becomes severe, it can block sound from getting into your inner ear. As a result, your ability to hear becomes weakened.
- Earwax buildup also interferes with the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. You might end up feeling like your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- Your hearing can also be impeded if you get a serious ear infection which can also be a result of dirty ears. When your ear infection clears, your regular hearing will normally come back.
- Your brain and ability to interpret sound will inevitably be impacted by untreated hearing loss.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s definitely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Added damage can be caused by cotton swabs and they will often make it even harder to hear. Over the counter ear drops are a smarter choice.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be listed. But identifying how loud is too loud is the real issue for most people. For example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your hearing over a long time period. Also, believe it or not, your lawn mower can take a toll on your ears. As you can tell, it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that damage your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid harmful noises include:
- When volume levels get too loud, an app on your phone can notify you of that.
- When you’re watching videos or listening to music keep your headphone volume at a manageable volume. When harmful levels are being approached, most phones come with a built in warning.
- Wearing hearing protection when noisy environments are unavoidable. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. Just wear the required ear protection. Contemporary earplugs and earmuffs provide ample protection.
Damage to the ears from noise doesn’t happen abruptly, it builds up gradually. So, even if your hearing “feels” good after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing professional can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Loss – Have it Treated
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be capable of preventing further damage. So when it comes to stopping hearing loss, treatment is so essential. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- The potential of developing hearing loss related health issues is reduced by wearing hearing aids because they prevent social isolation and brain strain.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will stop you from turning your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Hearing aids will counter further degeneration of your hearing by stopping this damage.
- We can give individualized guidance and advice to help you prevent further damage to your hearing.
Limiting Hearing Loss Will Benefit You in The Future
While it’s true that there’s no cure for hearing loss, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help prevent additional damage. In many instances, hearing aids are one of the principal ways to achieve that. Getting the correct treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your present hearing level intact.
Your giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing into the future by using ear protection, getting the appropriate treatment, and exercising good hearing hygiene.