Normally, when you’re first notice hearing loss (no matter the type), the first thing you should do is try to minimize the damage. After all, you can take some basic measures to avoid additional damage and protect your ears.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those early hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about keeping clean when it comes to hearing health, not behind the ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of distinctive ways:
- Your ability to hear can also be interfered with if you get a serious ear infection which can also be a result of dirty ears. Your hearing will go back to normal after the ear infection clears.
- Sound can be blocked from getting into the inner ear when there’s too much wax accumulation. Consequently, your ability to hear becomes diminished.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will ultimately be affected by neglected hearing loss.
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax buildup can interfere with its function as well. This may make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
You never turn to using a cotton swab to attempt to dig out built up earwax. Further damage can be caused by cotton swabs and they will often worsen your ability to hear. Over the counter ear drops are a smarter decision.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so intuitive. But knowing how loud is too loud is the real difficulty for most people. For example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your ears over an extended time period. Your lawnmower motor can be rather taxing on your ears, as well. As you can tell, it’s not just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are some ways to avoid damaging noise:
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable volume. Most phones include built-in alerts when you’re nearing a dangerous level.
- Using hearing protection when loud environments can’t be avoided. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Going to a rock concert? That’s great. Just wear the required ear protection. Modern earplugs and earmuffs provide ample protection.
- Making use of an app on your phone to notify you when decibel levels get to dangerous thresholds.
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. You can only get a clean bill of health for your ears by a hearing professional.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Loss – Have it Addressed
Hearing impairment accumulates most of the time. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be capable of preventing further damage. So when it comes to stopping hearing loss, treatment is so essential. Your hearing will get the greatest benefit if you find and follow through on practical treatment.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Some, but not all damage can be avoided by using hearing aids. Hearing aids will, for instance, let you listen to music or the TV at a lower volume, preventing damage. Hearing aids will prevent additional degeneration of your hearing by stopping this damage.
- Our guidance will help you learn to protect your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social solitude that worsen hearing loss-related health problems.
Decreasing Hearing Impairment Will Benefit You in The Long Run
Even though we don’t have a cure for hearing loss, additional damage can be prevented with treatment. In many instances, hearing aids are one of the top ways to achieve that. The correct treatment will help you preserve your current level of hearing and stop it from getting worse.
Your giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing into the future by wearing ear protection, getting the proper treatment, and practicing good hearing hygiene.