The first thing to do, when you begin to identify that you have hearing loss, is to avoid further damage. After all, you can take some basic steps to stop additional damage and safeguard your ears.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Remember learning to be certain you clean behind your ears when you learned general hygiene (or at least should have learned). In terms of hearing health, though, we aren’t worried about the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
There are several ways that keeping your ears free of wax can assist your hearing:
- Over time, untreated hearing loss can impact your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax buildup can hinder its function as well. This might make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
- Your ability to hear can also be interfered with if you get a severe ear infection which can also be a result of dirty ears. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will normally return.
- When wax accumulation becomes substantial, it can prevent sound from getting into your inner ear. This diminishes your ability to hear.
You never resort to the use of a cotton swab to try and dig out excess earwax. Further damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will often worsen your ability to hear. Alternatively, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so obvious it almost shouldn’t be listed. But determining how loud is too loud is the real issue for most individuals. Over a long period of time, for example, your hearing can be damaged by driving on a busy highway. Also, believe it or not, your lawn mower can take a toll on your ears. As you can see, it isn’t just blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are some ways to stay away from damaging noise:
- When you can’t steer clear of noisy settings, wear hearing protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. But be certain to wear the correct protection for your hearing. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer ample protection.
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable volume. When dangerous volumes are being reached, most phones feature a built in warning.
- Using an app on your phone to warn you when decibel levels get to unsafe thresholds.
Damage to the ears from noise doesn’t happen abruptly, it progresses slowly. So if you’ve been to a noisy event, you may have done damage even if you don’t notice it. Only a hearing professional can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Impairment – Have it Addressed
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So catching any damage early will help prevent added injury. That’s why getting treated is extremely important when it comes to decreasing hearing loss. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will keep your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s what you can expect:
- We can provide individualized guidance and advice to help you avoid added damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. Hearing aids will prevent additional degeneration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
- The chance of developing hearing loss related health issues is reduced by using hearing aids because they prevent social isolation and brain strain.
You Will be Benefited in The Future by Limiting Hearing Loss
Although we can’t cure hearing loss, additional damage can be prevented with treatment. One of the main ways to do that, in many situations, is hearing aids. The correct treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and stop it from getting worse.
Your allowing yourself the best chance for healthy hearing into the future by wearing ear protection, getting the appropriate treatment, and practicing good hearing hygiene.
