With over 1.5 billion people around the world suffering from hearing loss, it is critical to protect your hearing and ear health to prevent hearing loss. Hearing loss causes depression, social isolation, and cognitive decline. Read on for nine tips to protect your hearing and ear health.
1. Do not poke your ears
The glands in your outer ear often produce ear wax to protect your ear’s inner parts from infections, debris, bacteria, and dust, among other unwanted particles. Over time, the ear wax, also called cerumen, builds up in your ears, resulting in muffled hearing and discomfort.
Most people prefer using cotton swabs to get rid of excessive ear wax, but are you permitted to wear cotton swabs to clean your ears? The answer is no. The ears are some of the body’s most sensitive and delicate parts, so using cotton swabs to dig around them could puncture the eardrums, resulting in hearing loss. Cotton swabs also cause tears in your ears, which could lead to infection. Poking your ears using cotton swabs could also push cerumen further inside the ear, which could become impacted over time. Pushing ear wax further inside the ears also provides a breeding ground for bacteria and wax, resulting in infections.
Avoid using cotton swabs to clean your ears. The ears have a natural cleaning system that dispels cerumen: you naturally get rid of earwax through chewing and talking! However, if you have an earache, your ears are itchy, or the hearing aids start to whistle, it could signal excessive cerumen build. Consider scheduling professional ear wax removal to get rid of the build-up safely.
2. Avoid noisy places and activities
Noise-induced hearing loss is the most common cause of hearing loss. It is also the only preventable hearing loss cause. Unfortunately, Noise-induced hearing is gradual, and you may not notice you have a problem until it is too late to prevent damage. For this reason, avoid exposure to loud noises and activities as much as possible. Below are tips to avoid exposure to loud noise:
- Use the 60: 60 rule; do not listen to music for more than 60 minutes, and do not exceed a maximum of 60% volume
- Turn your hi-fi, TV, and radio volume down
- Move far away from the loudest noise sources, including loudspeakers and cannons, when at social events
- Maintain and lubricate machinery to reduce equipment noise
- Do not stay in spaces with loud noises for too long
3. Invest in protective hearing gear
It can be difficult to avoid exposure to loud noises, primarily if you work in a noisy environment or during recreational activities. To protect your hearing and ear health, consider investing in hearing protection. Hearing protection devices do not block sound but reduce the sound level entering your ears. These custom-fit hearing devices include protective earphones and earplugs. With that being said, ensure the protective hearing gear fits properly for maximum protection.
4. Keep your ears dry
Always dry your ears using a clean towel after showering and swimming. Moisture provides a favorable environment for bacteria to thrive and affects the ear, exposing you to infections that could hurt your hearing and ear health. Water trapped in your ear could also result in conditions like otitis externa, an illness that affects the outer ear canal.
If you suspect there’s water trapped inside your ears, always tilt the head towards that side, then shake the ear lobes gently to remove excess water and prevent inflammation of the outer ear canal. You could also invest in custom-fit earplugs, especially if you are a professional swimmer. These protective gear prevent water from entering the ears. Also, if you feel there is excess wax buildup in the ears, you should visit ear wax removal doctor.
5. Limit prolonged exposure to noise
Another effective way to protect your hearing and ear health when exposure to noises above 85 decibels is inevitable is taking some time away from the noisy environment. For instance, if you are in a loud concert or restaurant, you could step outside for five to ten minutes. This gives your ears time to rest and recover. If you stay in a quiet environment, avoid loud music and noise for 12 to 16 hours.
6. Stop smoking
Smoking increases the risk of hearing loss. According to recent research, 60% of smokers are susceptible to contracting high-frequency hearing loss. Exposure to nicotine and carbon monoxide hampers oxygen and blood flow, which help maintain healthy cells in your inner ear, increasing the chances of hearing loss.
Nicotine also causes tinnitus, not to mention interfering with the neurotransmitters, the chemical substances responsible for carrying messages from the hearing nerves to your brain. Smoking also causes middle ear lining irritation and intrudes on the normal functions of the eustachian tube. For this reason, consider cigarette cessation to protect your hearing and ear health. If you do not smoke, stay away from smokers to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
7. Keep moving
Exercising does not solely help you lose weight and stay fit. When you exercise, you protect your body against age-related hearing loss and improve hearing and ear health. Regular exercise increases blood flow to your ears, improving the health of your inner ear hair cells. The inner hair cells are responsible for converting acoustic vibrations into electrical signals to your brain, improving hearing. Be sure to engage in simple exercises such as jogging, walking, and running or handle household tasks like gardening to increase blood flow and protect your hearing and ear health.
8. Invest in hearing aids
If you have a specific hearing loss level or are suffering from hearing damage, and your doctor prescribes hearing aids after diagnosis, make sure you wear them as advised. Hearing aids can improve hearing and prevent further hearing loss.
9. Schedule regular checkups
Hearing-related problems develop gradually, and you may only notice you have an issue when the damage is irreparable. For this reason, you should always go for routine checkups. Scheduling regular checkups can allow your medical provider to catch hearing loss symptoms early and recommend the best remedies and treatments to reduce hearing loss severity and improve ear health.
Endnote
Failing to protect your hearing and ear health can result in permanent hearing loss and infections. Be sure to avoid noisy places, keep ears dry, stop smoking, exercise regularly, wear hearing aids, avoid poking your ears, and schedule routine ear checkups to protect your hearing and ear health.
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