Isn’t pizza fascinating? You can alter the toppings, sauces, even the cheeses involved, but as long as it meets a few basic factors, it’s still a pizza. That’s similar to hearing loss. Symptoms and manifestations are caused by numerous different issues, loud noises, genetics, age, or ear blockages, but as long as you have a hard time detecting sounds, it’s still hearing loss.
Minimizing the damage is the first step you should take when confronted with hearing loss of any type. There are, after all, some simple steps you can take to protect your ears and minimize added hearing loss.
Tip 1: Clean your ears
When you were a kid, you likely learned that you need to wash behind your ears. In terms of hearing health, we aren’t concerned with the areas behind your ears, but rather inside of your ears.
There are various ways that earwax buildup can affect your hearing:
- Unclean ears raise your risk of getting an ear infection, which creates swelling that when severe enough, interferes with your ability to hear. Your hearing will usually go back to normal after the infection clears.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax can also impact that. This may make it seem as though your hearing is worsening.
- When wax buildup becomes substantial, it can block soundwaves from reaching your inner ear. Because of this, your ability to hear becomes decreased.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s absolutely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most cases, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause added harm. Instead, use over-the-counter ear drops.
Tip 2: Steer clear of loud noises that could result in hearing loss
This one is so instinctive it almost shouldn’t be on the list. The problem is that the majority of people are hard-pressed to define what a “loud noise” actually is. For example, highway travel can be loud enough to harm your ears over a long amount of time. The engine on your lawnmower can be very straining on your ears, also. As you can tell, it isn’t just blasting speakers or loud rock concerts that harm your ears.
Here are a number of ways to steer clear of loud, harmful noises.:
- Using an app on your phone to let you know when volumes get to unsafe levels.
- Refraining from turning up the volume on your headphones when you’re viewing videos or listening to music. When approaching dangerous levels, most headphones have a built-in warning.
- When you need to be in a loud environment, utilize hearing protection. Are you working on a noisy factory floor? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s awesome. But wear the required ear protection. You can get plenty of protection with modern earmuffs and earplugs.
There’s a slow advancement to hearing loss that’s a result of loud sound. So, even if your hearing “feels” okay after a noisy event, that doesn’t mean it is. We can only help you find out if you have hearing loss if you call for an appointment.
Tip 3: If you have any hearing loss, deal with it
In general, hearing loss is progressive. You’ll be in a better position to protect against additional damage if you recognize your hearing loss early. In terms of hearing loss, that’s why treatment is so important. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible condition.
Here’s how treatments work:
- When you come in for a consultation we will give you individualized instructions and advice to help you avoid additional damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health conditions.
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from turning your television volume up so loud it becomes harmful. Because hearing aids prevent this damage, they can also prevent further degeneration of your hearing.
In the long run, you will be benefited by wearing hearing aids
While we know that hearing loss can’t be cured, hearing specialists are working hard to limit further harm to your ears. In many instances, hearing loss treatment is one of the primary ways to accomplish that. Your current level of hearing will be protected and hearing loss will be prevented from getting worse with the correct treatment.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and get hearing loss treatment with us, you’re taking the proper measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance of healthy hearing in the future.