Pizza is an interesting thing. You can adjust the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few general factors, it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and presentations are caused by many different problems, loud noises, genetics, age, or ear obstructions, but as long as you have difficulty detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Usually, 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 simple steps to limit additional damage and protect your ears.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
When you were younger, you most likely were taught that you need to wash behind your ears. But it’s your inner ears that we’re concerned with here, regarding hearing health, not behind your ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This might make it seem as if your hearing is diminishing.
- Unkempt ears increase your risk of developing an ear infection, which creates swelling that when significant enough, interferes with your ability to hear. Your hearing will normally return to normal when the infection is gone.
- When wax buildup becomes significant, it can prevent soundwaves from getting into your inner ear. Consequently, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
If you find earwax accumulation, it’s definitely not recommended that you poke around in there with a cotton swab. In most cases, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional harm. As an alternative, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Really loud noises should be averted
This one is so instinctive it practically shouldn’t be on this list. The issue is that the majority of people are hard-pressed to characterize what a “loud noise” actually is. A highway, for example, can be noisy enough that over an extended period of time, it can damage your ears. The motor on your lawnmower can be pretty straining on your ears, also. As you can tell, it isn’t only blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are some ways to avoid loud, damaging noises.:
- Using an app on your phone to alert you when decibel levels get to unsafe thresholds.
- When you have to be in a noisy environment, utilize hearing protection. Do you work on a noisy industrial floor? It’s okay if you want to go to that rock concert. But you need to use the appropriate ear protection. Modern earmuffs and earplugs supply ample protection.
- When you’re listening to tunes or watching videos, keep your headphone volume at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will progress slowly. So don’t simply 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: Address any hearing loss you might have
Generally speaking, hearing loss is progressive. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to protect against added damage. That’s why treatment is tremendously important when it comes to limiting hearing loss. Effective treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible situation.
Here’s how treatments work:
- 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 harmful levels. Because hearing aids counter this damage, they can also stop further deterioration of your hearing.
- When you come in for a consultation we will provide individualized instructions and advice to help you steer clear of additional damage to your ears.
- Hearing loss-related health conditions that are exacerbated by social isolation and brain strain can be prevented by wearing hearing aids.
Limit hearing loss – it will benefit you over the long haul
Despite the fact that we can’t cure hearing loss, we are doing hard work to help you limit further damage. In many circumstances, hearing loss treatment is one of the primary ways to achieve that. Your current level of hearing will be maintained and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the proper treatment.
When you wear hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the correct measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the years to come.