Although seniors are at the highest risk of hearing loss, it can affect anyone. According to the World Health Organization, more than a billion people worldwide suffer from the condition, which is largely preventable. Here, we offer ten tips to keep hearing issues from worsening.
Limiting Exposure to Loud and Prolonged Noises
Loud noises, like explosions, power tools, and concerts, can cause serious hearing damage. Similarly, harm comes from moderate-level noise over extended periods. Limiting exposure to loud and prolonged noises will prevent additional auditory impairment. If loud noises have affected your hearing, schedule a hearing exam today.
Quitting Smoking
Everyone knows that smoking is risky, but few are aware that it can affect their hearing. Numerous studies show links between smoking and hearing loss. Even if you’ve never lit a cigarette, it’s crucial to limit exposure to secondhand smoke.
Using Protective Equipment
Those who can’t prevent extreme and prolonged noise for occupational and environmental reasons can minimize the risk of hearing loss by using protective equipment. Ear molds, earplugs, and noise-canceling headphones are available, and they fit a range of circumstances.
Covering Your Ears
Exposure to cold air is a surprisingly common cause of hearing impairment, as are occupational and sports injuries. Protect your hearing by keeping your ears covered with the right headgear for work and sporting activities.
Staying in Good Health
Infections, inflammation, and prescription drug use can affect your hearing. Adopting an active lifestyle without smoking, drugs, stress, and poor nutrition reduces the risk of conditions that may damage hearing.
Getting Vaccinated
Staying up to date with vaccinations preserves hearing and overall health. Varicella zoster and measles viruses, among others, can lead to sustained hearing loss.
Knowing Your History
Some forms of hearing loss have a genetic component. Knowing your family’s history may help an audiologist provide early treatment before hearing loss gets worse.
Paying Attention to Warning Signs
Early intervention is one of the best ways to minimize the risk of further hearing damage. Learn the warning signs of hearing loss and schedule an appointment with an audiologist if you experience them.
Listening to Others
Family, friends, and colleagues may recognize an emerging hearing issue before you do. Unaddressed hearing loss can cause irreversible damage, and that’s why it’s so important to listen to others when they point out your struggles.
Scheduling Regular Checkups
Whether or not you’ve experienced any hearing loss symptoms, you should schedule regular checkups to establish a baseline. From there, an audiologist can identify and prevent minor issues before they become life-altering.
Following Professional Advice
Regular hearing checkups are crucial, but they’re worthless to those who refuse to take professional advice. Audiologists often recommend protective measures and lifestyle changes to prevent further damage—and if you follow those recommendations, you can rule out progressive hearing loss.
Using Hearing Aids
Hearing aids help users hear better, and they also have significant effects on overall health. Audiologists fit patients with hearing aids to improve health and prevent further damage, and proper use is essential.
Protecting Your Hearing
Audiologists want patients to know how to minimize hearing loss, and it starts with following these tips. Call the office to learn how to minimize hearing damage or use the online form to schedule an appointment with a hearing specialist.