The first thing to do, when you start to recognize that you have hearing loss, is to avoid further damage. There are, after all, some simple steps you can take to protect your hearing and limit 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? But it’s actually the inner ear we’re worried about keeping clean when it comes to hearing health, rather than behind the ears.
Keeping your ears free from wax buildup can help your hearing in a number of different ways:
- Over time, untreated hearing loss can affect your brain and your ability to decipher sounds.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax buildup can interfere with its function as well. This may make it seem as if your hearing is getting worse.
- Sound can be blocked from getting into the inner ear when there’s too much wax accumulation. Consequently, your hearing becomes weakened.
- Your hearing can also be interfered with if you get a serious ear infection which can also be a result of dirty ears. When your ear infection goes away, your regular hearing will usually come back.
You never turn to using a cotton swab to attempt to dig out built up earwax. In most instances, a cotton swab will make things worse or cause additional damage. Over the counter ear drops are a better choice.
Step 2: Avoid Loud Noises
This one is so intuitive it almost shouldn’t be on the list. The issue is that most people aren’t entirely certain what a “loud noise” actually is. Over an extended time period, for example, your ears can be damaged by driving on a busy freeway. Your lawnmower motor can be rather taxing on your ears, too. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or loud speakers that cause hearing impairment.
Some practical ways to escape harmful noises include:
- Utilizing an app on your phone to warn you when volume levels reach hazardous levels.
- When you can’t steer clear of noisy environments, wear hearing protection. Do you work on a loud factory floor? Going to a rock concert? That’s fun. But be certain to use the correct protection for your hearing. Contemporary earplugs and earmuffs supply abundant protection.
- Refraining from turning up the volume on your headphones when you’re listening to music or watching videos. When hazardous levels are being approached, most phones come with a built in warning.
The damage to your hearing from loud sounds will develop gradually. So if you’ve been to 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 Treated
Generally speaking, hearing impairment is cumulative. So recognizing any damage early will help prevent added injury. So in terms of slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so significant. Your hearing will be at the greatest advantage if you seek out and follow through on practical treatment.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for instance, allow you to listen to music or the TV at a lower volume, avoiding damage. Hearing aids will counter further degeneration of your hearing by preventing this damage.
- We can give personalized instructions and advice to help you avoid further damage to your ears.
- Hearing aids prevent the brain strain and social isolation that exacerbate hearing loss-related health problems.
Limiting Hearing Loss Will Benefit You in The Future
Although we can’t cure hearing loss, further damage can be avoided with treatment. In many cases, hearing aids are one of the top ways to accomplish that. The correct treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and stop it from worsening.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and pursue hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the proper steps to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best chance for healthy hearing in the future.
