The first thing to do, when you begin to identify that you have hearing loss, is to avoid added damage. There are, after all, some straightforward steps you can take to safeguard your hearing and minimize further hearing loss.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
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 aren’t worried about the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in several distinctive ways:
- When wax accumulation becomes severe, it can block sound from reaching your inner ear. This diminishes your ability to hear.
- Over time, neglected hearing loss can impact your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- Unkempt ears increase your chances of developing an ear infection, which produces inflammation that (when serious enough) impedes your hearing. Your hearing will return to normal after the ear infection clears.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax buildup can hinder its function as well. You might end up thinking that your hearing is going downhill because of this.
You never resort to the use of a cotton swab to try and dig out built up earwax. In most cases, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. Alternatively, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one should almost be left off the list it’s so obvious. But determining how loud is too loud is the real problem for most individuals. Over a long period of time, for example, your ears can be damaged by driving on a busy freeway. Your lawnmower motor can be rather taxing on your ears, too. 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 can’t steer clear of noisy environments, use hearing protection. Do you work on a noisy factory floor? Going to a rock concert? That’s great. But be certain to wear the appropriate protection for your ears. Contemporary earmuffs and earplugs provide ample protection.
- When you’re watching videos or listening to music keep your headphone volume at a manageable level. Most phones feature built-in alerts when you’re nearing a dangerous level.
- When decibel levels get too high, an app on your phone can warn you of that.
The damage to your hearing from loud noises will develop gradually. So if you’ve attended a loud 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: If You Have Any Hearing Loss – Get it Addressed
Generally speaking, hearing impairment is cumulative. So, the earlier you recognize the damage, the better you’ll be able to prevent further damage. So when it comes to slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so significant. Your hearing will be at the greatest advantage if you seek out and follow through on effective treatment.
Here’s how treatments work:
- We can provide individualized instructions and advice to help you avoid added damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids minimize the brain strain and social solitude that exacerbate hearing loss-related health issues.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for example, allow you to listen to music or the TV at a lower volume, preventing damage. Because hearing aids counter this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
You Will be Benefited in The Future by Decreasing Hearing Loss
Even though we can’t cure hearing loss, additional damage can be prevented with treatment. One of the primary ways to do that, in many cases, is hearing aids. Getting the correct treatment will not only prevent additional damage but also keep your current hearing level intact.
When you wear hearing protection, engage in good hygiene, and obtain hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the appropriate measures to minimize hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing in the future.