Pizza is a fascinating thing. You can change the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few standard criteria, it’s still a pizza. That’s similar to hearing loss. Symptoms and presentations are caused by many different issues – loud noises, genetic factors, age, ear obstructions – but as long as you have trouble detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Restricting the damage is usually the first step to take when you start to notice hearing loss. There are, after all, some basic steps you can take to safeguard your ears and limit further hearing loss.
Tip 1: Clean your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene instructions you learn (or should have learned), right? But in terms of the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re interested in.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in numerous different ways:
- Unkempt ears boost your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that, when significant enough, impedes your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears, your normal hearing will usually return.
- After a while, neglected hearing loss impacts your brain and your ability to interpret sounds.
- When wax accumulation becomes substantial, it can block sound waves from getting into your inner ear. Your hearing becomes compromised as a result.
- Earwax accumulation also disrupts the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. If this occurs you might think that your hearing is getting even worse.
You should never attempt to use a cotton swab to dig out earwax. Cotton swabs can push 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 result in hearing loss should be avoided
This one should be fairly obvious. But determining what constitutes “loud sound” isn’t very easy for most people. it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that damage your ears, freeway driving can be noisy enough to harm your ears over a long period of time. Your ears can also be compromised by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And when you’re out celebrating the 4th of July, be cautious to safeguard your ears!
Some practical ways to avoid harmful noises include:
- When you’re streaming movies or listening to music, watch your headphone volume. When you’re listening at hazardous levels, most phones have built-in alerts.
- When you can’t prevent being in a loud environment, use ear protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s fine. Just wear the correct ear protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer ample protection.
- When decibel levels get too high, you can use an app on your phone to let you know.
So if you go to a noisy event and your hearing seems fine after, that doesn’t mean it is, because hearing loss is usually a gradual progression. Your hearing can only be properly assessed by a hearing specialist.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
Hearing loss generally builds over time. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to stop further damage. So when it comes to hearing loss, this is the reason why getting it treated is so essential. Your hearing will be in the best possible condition when you observe the treatment plan we will lay out for you.
Treatment works like this:
- Mental strain, social withdrawal, and other hearing loss-associated health problems can be prevented by hearing aids.
- We will give you individualized instructions and advice to help you avoid further damage to your hearing.
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by hearing aids. With a hearing aid, you’re not likely to crank up the tv to harmful volumes. Hearing can prevent further deterioration of your hearing by preventing this kind of damage.
Minimize hearing loss – it will benefit you in the long run
Treatment is one of the main ways to prevent hearing loss despite the fact that there’s no cure. The correct treatment will help you preserve your present degree of hearing and prevent it from getting worse.
When you wear hearing protection, practice quality hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment with a hearing specialist, you’re taking the correct measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come!
