Around 40-million Americans are coping with some form of hearing loss. If you’re struggling to hear the TV or you’re asking other people to repeat themselves, you’re not by yourself in that. Hearing is complex and delicate, and audiologists are doing all that they can to ensure that individuals are as informed on how to protect their hearing. Audiology has made some impressive advances in hearing aid technology in recent years, and below we’ve got some tips for you from a hearing specialist so that you can take care of your hearing.
Avoid Loud Noise
While using your power mower outdoors can be enjoyable, it’s essential to safeguard your hearing by wearing protection to avoid unintentional hearing damage while maintaining your lawn. Similarly, when enjoying your favorite TV shows through headphones, consider lowering the volume on your devices and employing earplugs in noisy surroundings when possible. Attending concerts can be a great source of enjoyment, but it’s crucial to take preventive measures to preserve your hearing during such events.
Avoid Moisture Getting into Your Ears
An audiologists will tell you that excess moisture can lead to wax buildup and infection. This leads to hearing problems in the tiny little hair cells in your ears that carry sound to the brain. After you’ve had showers or you’ve gone swimming, gently dry your ears with a towel, but don’t use cotton swabs as they will push the wax further in your ear canal.
Give Up Smoking
You may not have considered smoking to be an issue when it comes to your hearing, but if you need another health-related reason to quit, you should understand that smoking has been indicated as something that can cause hearing loss. Both blood flow and oxygen are crucial to ensure that healthy cells in your inner ear are maintained. When you have an excessive amount of nicotine in your system, it can irritate the lining of your middle ear and disturb the function of the eustachian tube.
Read the Fine Print on Your Medications
One of the best tips from an audiologist for protecting your hearing is to know what medications could be causing hearing loss. There are some prescription medications out there that can have a side effect related to your hearing loss, so you should always be sure to discuss any potential effects with your doctor and speak to your audiologist about what you are currently taking to know whether it’s having an effect.
Understand Excessive Earwax Buildup
Earwax is a defense mechanism that can protect the inside of your ear. It’s secreted by the glands that are located in the outer ear, and it varies from consistency from person to person. Too much earwax can block your hearing and make sounds feel muffled. Attempting self-removal is not advised as it could potentially harm your ear canal. Instead, consult your audiologist to explore treatment options, and if needed, discuss the possibility of having your ears flushed.
Put Away the Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs can be harmful to the inside of your ear. Cotton swabs are for makeup and for nail polish, but they are not to go in your ears to clear out the internal or you would end up pushing debris further into your ear. Talk with your audiologist about ways to carefully clean your ears.
Go and Visit an Audiologist
A good tip from a hearing specialist is that you should get regular hearing screenings if you want to fall into better hearing. Routine hearing tests can provide your audiologist with a baseline as well, and that can be compared as you age so that you can have any changes to your hearing detected quickly. These screenings will provide the type and severity of loss that you have, so your audiologist can help you choose the best form of treatment.
Wear Ear Protection Outside
In cold weather, moisture buildup in the ears is much more likely. If you are wearing earmuffs or other ear protection, you’ll be able to ensure that your hearing is looked after and protected as much as possible.
Ask Your Friends and Family to Read Aloud to You
Effectively preserving your hearing involves being attentive to moments when you find it challenging to hear those around you. Sharing this information with your audiologist can help tailor your hearing tests and treatment plans more effectively to meet your specific needs.
With the help of our audiologists at Hear Here Audiology, you can schedule your hearing assessment and learn more about your hearing loss. Call us today at 727-289-1212.
