Pizza is a fascinating thing. As long as it meets a few standard criteria (crust, sauce, cheese, etc.) whatever the toppings, it’s still pizza. That’s also like hearing loss. Symptoms and manifestations are a consequence of many different issues – loud noises, genetic factors, age, ear blockages – but as long as you have difficulty detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is normally the first step to take when you begin to notice hearing loss. This is only one basic step you can take to safeguard your hearing from further harm.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
Remember when your parents used to constantly ask “did you wash behind your ears”? But when it comes to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re worried about.
Your hearing can be helped in several ways by keeping your ears free of earwax:
- If you wear hearing aids, earwax will also interfere with their functionality. If this happens you might think that your hearing is getting even worse.
- When wax accumulation becomes significant, it can block sound waves from getting into your inner ear. As a result, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
- Your ability to hear can be impeded by inflammation which is caused by profound ear infection as a result of unclean ears. Your functional hearing will typically come back when then the infection clears.
- Your brain and your ability to decipher sounds can be impacted over time by untreated hearing loss.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs can jam the earwax further up into the ear canal and can trigger even more damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Loud noise that could contribute to hearing loss should be avoided
This one is so instinctive it almost doesn’t need to be on this list. But defining what comprises “loud sound” isn’t easy for most individuals. There are lots of dangers to your hearing in everyday life including things as common as driving on a noisy highway every day over long periods. Your ears can also be compromised by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And, be mindful to safeguard your hearing during those 4th of July fireworks!
Here are some useful ways to avoid noise damage:
- When you can’t avoid being in a loud setting, wear ear protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s fine. Just wear the necessary hearing protection. You can get plenty of protection from contemporary earplugs and earmuffs.
- When decibel levels get too loud, you can use an app on your phone to alert you.
- Refrain from turning up the volume on your headphones when you’re streaming videos or listening to tunes. Most cellphones feature built-in warnings when you’re getting close to a harmful threshold.
So if you go to a noisy event and your hearing seems fine after, that doesn’t mean it is, because hearing loss is often a gradual progression. Your hearing can only be properly assessed by a hearing specialist.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, have it treated
Hearing loss generally accumulates over time. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to avoid further damage. That’s why treatment is very crucial when it comes to restricting hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Treatment works like this:
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by hearing aids. With a hearing aid, you’re not likely to turn up the tv to harmful volumes. Hearing can stop further deterioration of your hearing by preventing this kind of damage.
- We will provide customized instructions and guidance to help you avoid further damage to your hearing.
- Brain strain, social isolation, and other hearing loss-related health issues can be prevented by hearing aids.
In the long run you will be benefited by using hearing aids
While it’s true that there’s no cure for hearing loss, in many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the principal ways to prevent it. The appropriate treatment will help you preserve your present level of hearing and prevent it from becoming worse.
In the years to come you will be providing yourself with the best opportunity for healthy hearing if you get hearing loss treatment from us, use hearing protection, and practice good hygiene!