Pizza is an interesting thing. As long as a few factors are met, you can switch toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and presentations are caused by numerous different issues, loud noises, genetic factors, age, or ear obstructions, but as long as you have difficulty hearing sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Minimizing the damage is the first thing you should do when confronted with hearing loss of any variety. You can, after all, take some basic measures to limit additional damage and safeguard your ears.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
Did you wash behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene lessons you learn, or should have learned, right? But it’s your inner ears that we’re concerned with here, in terms of hearing health, not the back of your ears.
There are various ways that earwax buildup can affect your hearing:
- Unkempt ears increase your chances of developing an ear infection, which creates inflammation that when severe enough, interferes with your ability to hear. When your ear infection goes away, your normal hearing will usually return (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This might make you think that your hearing is going.
- Sound waves going to your ears can be impeded when a substantial amount of earwax accumulates. Consequently, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
A cotton swab is absolutely not the best tool to use to get any earwax that you may have noticed out and is strongly discouraged. Cotton swabs can cause damage and will almost always make the problem worse. As an alternative, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Really loud sounds should be avoided
This is so evident that it sort of goes without saying. But what exactly comprises a “loud sound”? A freeway, for example, can be loud enough that over an extended period of time, it can harm your ears. Your ears can also be harmed by regular usage of your lawn mower. Clearly, other things besides rock concerts or blaring speakers can damage your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid damaging noises include:
- When decibel levels become dangerously loud, you can make use of an app on your phone to alert you.
- When you’re listening to music or viewing videos, keep the volume of your headphones at safe levels. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in alert.
- When you need to be in a loud setting, use hearing protection. Are you working on a noisy industrial floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s awesome. Just use the required ear protection. You can get adequate protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will progress slowly. So don’t just presume that your hearing is fine after a loud event, even if it feels fine. Only if you come in for a hearing exam can we give your ears a clean bill of health.
Tip 3: Manage any hearing loss you might have
In most cases, hearing loss accumulates gradually over a long time period. You’ll be in a better position to protect against further damage if you recognize your hearing loss early. When it comes to hearing loss, that’s why treatment is so important. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will leave your hearing in the best possible situation.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Hearing loss-related health problems that are exacerbated by social isolation and brain strain can be prevented by wearing hearing aids.
- Some, but not all damage can be stopped by wearing hearing aids. If you’re wearing hearing aids, for instance, you won’t always have to turn volumes up to damaging levels. This will prevent further noise-related damage.
- When you come in and see us we will give you individualized instructions and advice to help you steer clear of additional damage to your ears.
Minimize hearing loss – it will benefit you in the long run
While we know that hearing loss can’t be cured, hearing specialists are working hard to limit additional damage to your ears. In many instances, hearing loss treatment is one of the best ways to achieve that. Your current level of hearing will be protected and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the proper treatment.
When you wear hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and get hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the proper measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the future.