Normally, when you first notice hearing loss (no matter the type), the first thing you should do is try to limit the damage. There are, in fact, some straightforward measures you can take to protect your hearing and minimize further hearing loss.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those initial hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? With regards to hearing health, though, we aren’t concerned with the areas behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can help your hearing in several different ways:
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax accumulation can hinder its function also. You may end up feeling like your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- In the long run, untreated hearing loss can affect your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- Sound can be blocked from getting into the inner ear when there’s too much wax accumulation. As a result, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
- Unkempt ears raise your chances of developing an ear infection, which produces inflammation that (when serious enough) interferes with your hearing. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will usually return.
If you notice earwax accumulation, it’s absolutely not advisable that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most instances, a cotton swab will worsen the situation or cause additional damage. Over the counter ear drops are a better opinion.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be on the list. But knowing how loud is too loud is the real difficulty for most people. As an example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your ears over an extended period of time. The motor on your lawnmower can be rather taxing on your ears, as well. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or high volume speakers that cause hearing impairment.
Some useful ways to escape damaging noises include:
- When volume levels get too high, an app on your phone can warn you of that.
- Refraining from cranking the volume up on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. When dangerous levels are being approached, most phones feature a built in warning.
- When you can’t steer clear of noisy environments, use hearing protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s great. But be sure to wear the appropriate protection for your hearing. A perfect example would be earplugs or earmuffs.
Damage to the ears from noise doesn’t develop abruptly, it builds up slowly. So if you’ve attended a loud event, you may have done damage even if you don’t detect it. Only a hearing specialist can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: Address Any Hearing Loss You Might Have
Generally speaking, hearing impairment is cumulative. So catching any damage early will go a long way to preventing added injury. That’s why getting treated is tremendously important in terms of limiting hearing loss. Your hearing will get the greatest benefit if you find and follow through on practical treatment.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Our guidance will help you learn to safeguard your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- Hearing aids minimize the brain strain and social solitude that worsen hearing loss-related health issues.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for example, allow you to listen to music or the TV at a lower volume, avoiding damage. Hearing aids will prevent additional deterioration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
Limiting Hearing Impairment Will Benefit You in The Long Run
Although we can’t cure hearing loss, additional damage can be prevented with treatment. In many cases, hearing aids are one of the principal ways to achieve that. Getting the correct treatment will not only stop further damage but also keep your current hearing level intact.
Your giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing into the future by using ear protection, getting the proper treatment, and exercising good hearing hygiene.