The first thing to do, when you begin to recognize that you have hearing loss, is to eliminate further damage. There are, after all, some straightforward steps you can take to safeguard your ears and minimize further hearing loss.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Remember learning to be certain you clean behind your ears when you learned basic hygiene (or at least should have learned). In terms of hearing health, however, we’re not concerned with the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Your hearing can also be interfered with if you get a severe ear infection which can also be caused by unclean ears. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will usually return.
- In the long run, neglected hearing loss can impact your brain and your ability to interpret sounds.
- When wax buildup becomes severe, it can block sound from reaching your inner ear. This diminishes your ability to hear.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax accumulation can hinder its function as well. This might make it seem like your hearing is getting worse.
If you find earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not recommended that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Further damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will frequently make it even harder to hear. Over the counter ear drops are a smarter opinion.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so obvious. The issue is that most people aren’t entirely certain what a “loud noise” actually is. As an example, highway driving can be loud enough to damage your hearing over an extended time period. Also, surprisingly, your lawn mower can take a toll on your ears. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or loud speakers that cause hearing impairment.
Some practical ways to stay away from damaging noises include:
- Wearing ear protection when noisy environments are unavoidable. Does your job put you on the floor of a loud manufacturing plant? Going to see a rock concert? That’s cool. But be certain to wear the correct protection for your ears. Contemporary earplugs and earmuffs supply ample protection.
- Refraining from cranking up the volume on your headphones when you’re listening to music or watching videos. Most phones include built-in warnings when you’re approaching a dangerous level.
- Utilizing an app on your phone to notify you when volume levels reach unsafe levels.
Damage to the ears from noise doesn’t happen suddenly, it builds up slowly. So if you’ve attended a loud event, you could have done damage even if you don’t notice it. You can only get a clean bill of health for your ears by a hearing professional.
Step #3: Address Any Hearing Impairment You Might Have
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be capable of preventing further damage. That’s why treatment is incredibly important when it comes to stopping hearing loss. Your hearing will get the greatest benefit if you find and follow through on effective treatment.
Here’s how treatments work:
- The chance of developing hearing loss related health problems is reduced by wearing hearing aids because they minimize social solitude and brain strain.
- We can provide personalized guidance and advice to help you avoid added damage to your hearing.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for instance, allow you to listen to the TV or music 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 don’t have a cure for hearing loss, additional damage can be prevented with treatment. In many situations, hearing aids are one of the primary ways to accomplish that. The appropriate treatment will help you preserve your current level of hearing and stop it from worsening.
Your giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing into the future by using ear protection, getting the appropriate treatment, and practicing good hearing hygiene.