Usually, when you’re first notice hearing loss (no matter the type), the first thing you should do is try to minimize the damage. After all, you can take some easy steps to avoid additional damage and protect your ears.
Step 1: Clean Your Ears
Did you clean behind your ears? It’s one of those initial hygiene lessons you learn (or should have learned), right? But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about keeping clean when it comes to hearing health, not behind the ears.
Keeping your ears clear of wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Earwax buildup also interferes with the operation of your hearing aid if you use one. This might make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
- Unkempt ears raise your chances of getting an ear infection, which causes inflammation that (when severe enough) impedes your ability to hear. When your ear infection goes away, your regular hearing will usually come back.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will inevitably be impacted by untreated hearing loss.
- Sound can be blocked from getting into the inner ear when there’s too much wax buildup. This diminishes your ability to hear.
If you observe earwax accumulation, it’s definitely not advisable that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. In most instances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. Over the counter ear drops are a smarter idea.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so obvious it almost shouldn’t be listed. But identifying how loud is too loud is the real issue for most individuals. As an example, freeway driving can be loud enough to damage your ears over a long period of time. Also, believe it or not, your lawn mower can take a toll on your hearing. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or loud speakers that cause hearing impairment.
Here are a few ways to avoid damaging noise:
- Utilizing an app on your phone to notify you when volume levels get to hazardous levels.
- Wearing hearing protection when noisy environments are unavoidable. Does your job put you on the floor of a loud manufacturing plant? Do you really want to attend that rock concert? That’s great. Just use the correct hearing protection. A perfect example would be earmuffs and earplugs.
- When you’re listening to music or watching videos keep the volume on your headphones at a manageable level. Most phones feature built-in alerts when you’re approaching a dangerous threshold.
The damage to your ears from loud sounds will build up slowly. So, even if your hearing “feels” good after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. You can only get a clean bill of health for your ears by a hearing professional.
Step #3: Address Any Hearing Loss You May Have
Hearing impairment accumulates most of the time. So, the earlier you recognize the damage, the better you’ll be capable of preventing further damage. So in terms of stopping hearing loss, treatment is so essential. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will put your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Our advice will help you learn to safeguard your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- Hearing aids can prevent some, but not all, damage. For instance, hearing aids will prevent you from turning your television volume up so loud it harms your ears. Hearing aids will prevent additional degeneration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
- Hearing aids minimize the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health issues.
Limiting Hearing Impairment Will Benefit You in The Future
Although it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop further damage. One of the principal ways to do that, in many instances, is hearing aids. The correct treatment will help you preserve your present level of hearing and stop it from worsening.
Your giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing into the future by using ear protection, getting the proper treatment, and exercising good hearing hygiene.
