The first thing to do, when you start to identify that you have hearing loss, is to eliminate added damage. There are, in fact, some straightforward measures you can take to protect your ears and limit further hearing loss.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Remember learning to make sure you clean behind your ears when you learned basic hygiene (or at least should have learned). But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about cleaning in terms of hearing health, not behind the ears.
Keeping your ears free from wax accumulation can help your hearing in many different ways:
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax accumulation can interfere with its function as well. You may end up thinking that your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will inevitably be impacted by untreated hearing loss.
- Sound can be blocked from reaching the inner ear when there’s too much wax buildup. As a result, your hearing becomes diminished.
- Your hearing can also be impeded if you get a severe ear infection which can also be caused by unclean ears. Your hearing will return to normal after the ear infection clears.
You never turn to the use of a cotton swab to attempt to dig out excess earwax. Added damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will often worsen your ability to hear. Alternatively, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so obvious it almost shouldn’t be listed. The problem is that most people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. As an example, highway driving can be loud enough to damage your hearing over a long time period. Also, surprisingly, your lawn mower can take a toll on your hearing. As you can tell, it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Some useful ways to avoid harmful noises include:
- Using an app on your phone to warn you when decibel levels reach dangerous levels.
- Using ear protection when loud environments are unavoidable. Does your job put you on the floor of a noisy manufacturing plant? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. But be sure to use the appropriate protection for your ears. A perfect illustration would be earplugs or earmuffs.
- When you’re watching videos or listening to music keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable level. Most phones have built-in alerts when you’re nearing a dangerous threshold.
The damage to your hearing from loud noises will develop slowly. So if you’ve been to a noisy event, you might 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 specialist.
Step #3: Address Any Hearing Loss You May Have
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the earlier you recognize the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent further damage. So in terms of slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so essential. Practical treatments (that you follow through with) will leave your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s what you can expect:
- The chance of developing hearing loss related health problems is diminished by using hearing aids because they prevent social solitude and brain strain.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for example, allow you to listen to music or the TV at a lower volume, avoiding damage. Hearing aids will prevent additional degeneration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
- We can provide individualized guidelines and advice to help you avoid further damage to your hearing.
You Will be Benefited in The Future by Decreasing Hearing Loss
Even though it’s true that there’s no cure for hearing loss, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop further damage. One of the main ways to do that, in many cases, is hearing aids. The correct treatment will help you preserve your present level of hearing and stop it from getting worse.
When you wear hearing protection, engage in good hygiene, and obtain hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the appropriate steps to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come.