The first thing to do, when you start to recognize that you have hearing loss, is to prevent further damage. After all, you can take some basic steps to avoid additional damage and safeguard your ears.
Step 1: Keep Your Ears Clean
Remember learning to be certain you clean behind your ears when you learned general hygiene (or at least should have learned). When it comes to hearing health, however, we’re not worried about the space behind your ears, but rather your inner ears.
Keeping your ears free of wax buildup can help your hearing in several different ways:
- Untidy ears raise your odds of getting an ear infection, which leads to inflammation that (when serious enough) impedes your hearing. When your ear infection goes away, your regular hearing will normally return.
- Sound can be blocked from reaching the inner ear when there’s too much wax accumulation. This diminishes your ability to hear.
- Your brain and ability to decipher sound will ultimately be impacted by neglected hearing loss.
- If you use a hearing aid, earwax accumulation can hinder its function also. You might end up feeling like your hearing is going downhill because of this.
If you notice earwax buildup, it’s definitely not suggested that you dig around in there with a cotton swab. Additional damage can be done by cotton swabs and they will often make it even harder to hear. 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. The issue is that most individuals aren’t entirely certain what a “loud noise” actually is. Over a long time period, for example, your ears can be damaged by driving on a busy highway. The motor on your lawnmower can be rather taxing on your ears, too. Obviously, it’s more than rock concerts or high volume speakers that cause hearing impairment.
Here are some ways to stay away from damaging noise:
- Utilizing an app on your phone to notify you when volume levels reach dangerous levels.
- When you can’t steer clear of noisy settings, wear hearing protection. Does your job put you on the floor of a noisy manufacturing plant? Do you really want to go to that rock concert? That’s cool. But be sure to wear the correct protection for your hearing. Modern earplugs and earmuffs provide ample protection.
- Staying away from cranking up the volume on your headphones when you’re watching videos or listening to music. Most phones have built-in alerts when you’re approaching a dangerous threshold.
The damage to your hearing from loud noises will build up slowly. So, even if your hearing “seems” okay after a loud event, that doesn’t mean it is. Only a hearing professional can give your ears a clean bill of health.
Step #3: If You Have Any Hearing Impairment – Have it Addressed
Generally speaking, hearing loss is cumulative. So, the sooner you recognize the damage, the better you’ll be capable of preventing additional damage. So when it comes to slowing down hearing loss, treatment is so significant. Practical treatments (on which you follow through) will keep your hearing in the best possible shape.
Here’s how treatments work:
- Hearing aids can stop some, but not all, damage. Hearing aids will, for instance, allow you to listen to the TV or music at a lower volume, avoiding damage. Because hearing aids counter this damage, they can also stop further degeneration of your hearing.
- Our guidance will help you learn to safeguard your hearing because it is customized and personalized for you.
- The chance of developing hearing loss related health issues is diminished by using hearing aids because they prevent social isolation and brain strain.
Limiting Hearing Loss Will Benefit You in The Future
Even though it’s true that hearing loss can’t be cured, getting treatment for your hearing loss will help stop additional damage. In many instances, hearing aids are one of the primary ways to achieve that. The appropriate treatment will help you maintain your current level of hearing and prevent it from worsening.
When you use hearing protection, practice good hygiene, and obtain hearing loss treatment, you’re taking the appropriate measures to limit hearing loss while also giving yourself the best opportunity for healthy hearing in the future.