Normally, when you’re confronted with hearing loss (no matter the variety), the first thing you should do is try to control the damage. There are, after all, some simple steps you can take to protect your hearing and minimize further hearing loss.
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, however, we aren’t worried about the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
There are numerous ways that keeping your ears free from wax can help your hearing:
- If you have a hearing aid, earwax buildup can hinder its function also. You may end up feeling like your hearing is going downhill because of this.
- Unkempt ears increase your odds of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that (when severe enough) impedes your ability to hear. Your hearing will go back to normal after the ear infection clears.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will inevitably be impacted by untreated hearing loss.
- When wax buildup becomes significant, it can prevent sound from reaching your inner ear. This diminishes your ability to hear.
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 worsen the situation or cause additional damage. Over the counter ear drops are a better decision.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so obvious. The problem is that most individuals are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. Over an extended period of time, for example, your ears can be damaged by driving on a busy highway. Also, surprisingly, your lawn mower can take a toll on your hearing. As you can see, it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that damage your ears.
Here are a few ways to avoid damaging noise:
- Making use of an app on your phone to warn you when decibel levels reach hazardous thresholds.
- When you can’t steer clear of loud settings, use hearing protection. Does your job put you on the floor of a loud manufacturing plant? Going to a rock concert? That’s cool. Just use the required hearing protection. A perfect illustration would be earplugs or earmuffs.
- Staying away from cranking up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. When hazardous volumes are being approached, most phones feature a built in warning.
The damage to your ears from loud noises will develop gradually. So if you’ve been to a loud event, you might have done damage even if you don’t detect it. Only a hearing professional can give your ears a clean bill of health.
Step #3: Treat Any Hearing Impairment You May Have
In general, hearing loss is cumulative. So catching any damage early on will help prevent added injury. That’s why getting treated is incredibly important in terms of decreasing hearing loss. Effective treatments (that you follow through with) will put your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s what you can expect:
- The potential of developing hearing loss related health issues is reduced by using hearing aids because they prevent social solitude and brain strain.
- Our advice will help you learn to protect your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- Some, but not all damage can be prevented by using hearing aids. Hearing aids will, for instance, let you listen to the TV or music at a lower volume, avoiding damage. Because hearing aids counter this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
Decreasing Hearing Impairment Will Benefit You in The Future
Even though we can’t cure hearing loss, further damage can be prevented with treatment. In many situations, hearing aids are one of the main ways to accomplish that. Getting the correct treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your present hearing level intact.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and obtain hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the appropriate steps to minimize hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the years to come.