Pizza is an interesting thing. As long as it meets a few basic criteria (crust, sauce, cheese, etc.) regardless of the toppings, it’s still pizza. That’s also like hearing loss. Symptoms and manifestations are due to many different issues – loud noises, genetic factors, age, ear obstructions – but as long as you have trouble detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Limiting the damage is usually the first step to take when you begin to detect hearing loss. This is only one simple measure you can take to safeguard your hearing from further harm.
Tip 1: Clean your Ears
Remember when your mom used to always ask “did you clean behind your ears”? But when it comes to the health of your hearing, it’s the inner ear, not behind the ears, that we’re interested in.
Keeping your ears free of wax accumulation can help your hearing in a few different ways:
- Your brain and your ability to decipher sounds can be impacted over time by untreated hearing loss.
- Untidy ears boost your risk of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that, when significant enough, interferes with your ability to hear. When your ear infection clears up, your normal hearing will typically come back.
- Earwax accumulation also interferes with the operation of your hearing aid if you have one. This might make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
- When wax accumulation becomes significant, it can block sound waves from reaching your inner ear. As a result, your ability to hear becomes reduced.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most situations, a cotton swab will make things even worse or cause additional damage. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Try to avoid loud noises that could result in hearing loss
This one should be fairly intuitive. The problem is that most individuals are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. it isn’t just blaring speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your hearing, highway driving can be noisy enough to damage your ears over a long period of time. Your ears can also be damaged by things like the motor of your lawn mower. And when you’re out remembering the 4th of July, be careful to protect your hearing!
Some useful ways to avoid damaging noises include:
- Using an app on your phone to let you know when decibel levels reach hazardous thresholds.
- Avoid cranking up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. When you’re listening at unsafe volumes, most phones have built-in alerts.
- When you can’t prevent being in a loud setting, use ear protection. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s fine. Just use the correct hearing protection. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs offer ample protection.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will accumulate gradually. So, even if your hearing “feels” fine after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Your hearing can only be properly assessed by a hearing specialist.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, get it treated
Hearing loss generally accumulates over time. So, the earlier you catch the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent further damage. So in terms of hearing loss, this is the reason why having it treated is so crucial. Your hearing will be in the best possible condition when you observe the treatment plan we will provide for you.
Treatment works like this:
- We will provide personalized instructions and guidance to help you avoid further damage to your hearing.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. For example, hearing aids will prevent you from cranking your television volume up so loud it damages your ears. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
- Mental strain, social withdrawal, and other hearing loss-associated health problems can be prevented by hearing aids.
In the long run you will be benefited by using hearing aids
Treatment is one of the principal ways to prevent hearing loss despite the fact that there’s no cure. Treating your hearing loss appropriately will stop additional damage while preserving your present level of hearing.
In the years to come you will be providing yourself with the best opportunity for healthy hearing if you get hearing loss treatment from us, use hearing protection, and practice good hygiene!