The first thing to do, when you begin to identify that you have hearing loss, is to avoid added damage. After all, you can take some basic steps to stop further damage and safeguard your ears.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those first hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? When it comes to hearing health, though, we’re not concerned with the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of distinctive ways:
- Your hearing can also be interfered with if you get a serious ear infection which can also be caused by unclean ears. When your ear infection goes away, your regular hearing will usually return.
- When wax accumulation becomes severe, it can stop sound from reaching your inner ear. Consequently, your hearing becomes weakened.
- Earwax accumulation also inhibits the functionality of your hearing aid if you have one. This could make it seem as though your hearing is getting worse.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will ultimately be affected by neglected hearing loss.
If you observe earwax buildup, it’s definitely not advisable that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most instances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. Over the counter ear drops are a better opinion.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so intuitive it almost shouldn’t be listed. But identifying how loud is too loud is the real problem for most people. Over an extended time period, for example, your hearing can be damaged by driving on a busy highway. The motor on your lawnmower can be fairly taxing on your ears, too. Clearly, it’s more than rock concerts or high volume speakers that cause hearing loss.
Some practical ways to stay away from harmful noises include:
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable level. When harmful levels are being reached, most phones come with a built in warning.
- Using ear protection when loud environments can’t be avoided. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Going to a rock concert? That’s fun. But be certain to use the proper protection for your ears. A perfect illustration would be earplugs or earmuffs.
- When decibel levels get too loud, an app on your phone can notify you of that.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will build up slowly. So, even if your hearing “seems” good after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing professional can give your hearing a clean bill of health.
Step #3: Treat Any Hearing Impairment You May Have
In general, hearing impairment is cumulative. So, the sooner you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent additional damage. That’s why treatment is incredibly important in terms of limiting hearing loss. Your hearing will get the greatest benefit if you seek out and follow through on practical treatment.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Hearing aids minimize the brain strain and social isolation that worsen hearing loss-related health problems.
- We can give personalized instructions and advice to help you avoid added damage to your hearing.
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by using hearing aids. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. Hearing aids will counter further degeneration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
You Will be Benefited in The Future by Decreasing Hearing Loss
While it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop further damage. One of the main ways to do that, in many instances, is hearing aids. Getting the correct treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your current hearing level intact.
Your giving yourself the best possibility for healthy hearing into the future by using ear protection, getting the proper treatment, and practicing good hearing hygiene.