Isn’t pizza fascinating? As long as a few factors are met, you can adjust toppings, cheese, and sauce, and it’s still a pizza. Hearing loss is similar. Symptoms and presentations are caused by a number of different issues, loud noises, genetics, age, or ear obstructions, but as long as you have a hard time detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Frequently, when you’re facing hearing loss (no matter the variety), the first thing you need to do is try to minimize the damage. There are, after all, some basic measures you can take to protect your ears and minimize added hearing loss.
Tip 1: Keep your ears clean
When you were younger, you probably learned that you need to clean behind your ears. With regards to hearing health, we aren’t worried about the areas behind your ears, but rather inside of your ears.
There are various ways that earwax accumulation can impact your hearing:
- When wax accumulation becomes substantial, it can block soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. When this occurs you won’t be able to hear as well.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax can also interfere with that. This might make you think that your hearing is starting to fail.
- Unclean ears raise your risk of developing an ear infection, which causes swelling that when significant enough, impedes your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears, your regular hearing will normally return (but that’s something you should talk to a doctor about).
A cotton swab is absolutely not the correct tool to use to clear any earwax that you may have noticed out and is strongly discouraged. In most circumstances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause added damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Really loud noises should be avoided
This is so obvious that it sort of goes without saying. But what exactly comprises a “loud sound”? For instance, highway driving can be loud enough to harm your ears over a long amount of time. The engine on your lawnmower can be pretty straining on your ears, also. Clearly, other things besides rock concerts or blaring speakers can damage your ears.
Some useful ways to stay away from damaging noises include:
- Using ear protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Do you work on the floor of a loud factory? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. But wear the necessary ear protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
- Refraining from turning the volume up on your headphones when you’re viewing videos or listening to music. The majority of phones feature built-in alerts when you’re approaching a hazardous limit.
- When decibel levels become dangerously loud, you can utilize an app on your phone to alert you.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will build up slowly. So, even if your hearing “feels” okay after a noisy event, that doesn’t mean it is. We can only help you find out if you have hearing loss if you call for an appointment.
Tip 3: Treat any hearing loss you may have
In most instances, hearing loss accumulates slowly over an extended period of time. You’ll be in a better position to protect against additional damage if you recognize your hearing loss early on. That’s why treatment is incredibly important when it comes to minimizing hearing loss. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- We will help you stay clear of further damage to your ears by providing you with individualized guidance when you come in for an assessment.
- Hearing aids reduce the brain strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health problems.
- Some, but not all damage can be stopped by wearing hearing aids. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it becomes harmful. This will prevent further noise-related damage.
Over the long haul, you will be benefited by wearing hearing aids
Even though we can’t cure hearing loss, we are doing hard work to help you minimize further damage. Treatment of hearing loss is usually one of the best approaches to that. The right treatment will help you preserve your current level of hearing and prevent it from worsening.
When you wear ear protection, maintain good hygiene, and get hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the correct measures to minimize hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the future.