There are two common reasons for hearing loss. One is age, which means that as you get older, you become prone to hearing problems because your inner ear’s tiny hair cells can no longer pick up sound vibrations the way they used to. Another factor is exposure to loud sound or noise, thus eventually damaging the ear’s hair cells as well. Noise-induced hearing loss can be prevented by considering the following tips.
Make Your Options Quiet
Are you scheduling a movie night with friends from the retirement community? If you are in a movie theater and you find the sound too loud for you to bear, you might want to switch to a private viewing in the community where you can turn down the volume. If you are eating out with family and you find that the music in the background is too much for you to take, you can use earplugs to protect your hearing.
Learn to Define What Too Loud Means
Was there ever an instance in your life when you are forced to shout at the person you are talking to just because there is a noisy motorcycle in the background? When you have done that then that means the sound is too loud. Avoid such situations to prevent hearing loss.
Protect Your Ears
There are loud sounds that you cannot avoid but if you want to prevent yourself from losing your sense of hearing, then it is best to wear protection. As mentioned, you can wear earplugs. They go in your ear canal and have the capacity to reduce noise by up to 30 decibels. There are some versions that can evenly lower noise across varying frequencies. Earmuffs do the same thing. The only difference is that they completely cover your ears. Wear them if you are watching a concert at the park, or when you feel like your hearing will be compromised.
Stop Smoking
Research has shown that smoking can impact your hearing. Make this your reason to quit the habit. Avoid secondhand smoke as well, since this can have the same effect as when you are a smoker yourself.
Get a Hearing Test
There are many reasons to get a hearing test. If a close relative suffers from hearing loss or if you are having trouble listening and hearing conversations, then that is more than enough reason to have yourself checked. Do the same thing if you have been around noises regularly or if you hear something ringing in your ears out of nowhere.
Focus on Ear Hygiene
Getting earwax off your ear is a good way to start. The traditional way is to use a cotton swab, but the truth is that it pushes wax deeper inside the ear. You can use an at-home irrigation kit instead. Visit your doctor if your ear gets compacted.
Steering clear of loud noises is just one of the first steps to avoiding hearing loss. There is so much to consider like the ones we have provided above.
