Hearing loss goes by different names like deafness, decreased hearing, and loss of hearing. Some of the causes of it include trauma, noise, medications as well as diseases. Additionally, head injury and perforated eardrums can contribute to it. Since you cannot reverse the condition, it is imperative that we all take care of our ears. To know how can I protect my hearing read this complete post. In this post, we discussed how any user can protect hearing and what causes hearing loss, and many other points related to that, to know all read this complete post or article.
Points to Know How can I protect my hearing
Below are some of the ways that you can use to protect your hearing.
A) Stay away from noisy places:
Noise is detected by a spiral-shaped organ known as a cochlear located within the ear. When you are somewhere noisy, the hairs on the cochlear sense the vibration and pass it along to the brain. In most cases, excessive noise destroys these sensitive hairs.
The following are some of the ways that you can protect your ears from excessive noise:
Avoid noise exposure whenever you can. If you work in a noisy environment, wear safety equipment and consult with your occupational safety and health officer if you are worried about the noise levels. When exposed to loud noise, ensure that you wear personal hearing protection such as earplugs and earmuffs.
If you attend a rock concert, go to a nightclub or motor racing shows ensure you arm yourself with earplugs. Wear earplugs in noisy environments, such as factories, concert events, or train stations.
B) Exercise regularly:
Exercise can help your ears to remain healthy. Additionally, maintain an active lifestyle by exercising regularly. When you exercise, blood travels into every part of your body, and this includes the ear. You can engage in the following physical activities to ensure that you remain healthy:
- Walking
- Cycling
- Running
- Skiing
- N/B Always wear a helmet when cycling as it can save you from getting a head concussion and experiencing hearing loss if you hit your head.
C) Keep your ears dry:
It is hard to keep your ears dry if you love swimming. However, it is vital to dry them with a towel as soon as you step out of the water. You can try tilting your head to one side if you notice that they have water. Excess moisture is extremely dangerous to your ears as it allows bacteria to enter and attack the ear canal. Consider talking to your doctor about earplugs if you swim frequently.
D) Learn to turn down the volume:
Teenagers are at risk of hearing loss because of using audio devices. They like listening to music through headphones and loud music audio systems. Individuals that love listening to music through their headphones are encouraged to protect their ears by putting on only 60% volume and playing for only 60 minutes at a time. Any loud music played through the headphones has the potential to induce hearing loss.
E) Avoid using a cotton swab
It is common to see people using cotton swabs or buds to remove wax from their ears. However, doctors do not recommend it. Wax plays an integral role in the air as it stops dust and other harmful particles from entering the ear canal. Moreover, inserting anything in the ear canals exposes the eardrum to damage. Experts recommend that an individual with excess wax clean the ear canal using a damp towel.
F)Schedule annual hearing consultations:
Hearing loss usually develops gradually, and consulting a hearing healthcare personnel will help you detect a problem in your ears and address it on time. Book an appointment with audiologists in New Jersey if you suspect that you have a problem with your ears. Untreated hearing loss can potentially bring adverse effects to you. These include ruining your relationships, contributing to poor quality of life, and exposing you to health concerns like dementia, heart disease, and depression.
Causes of hearing loss
Diseases:
Some diseases like meningitis, mumps, measles, and rubella can lead to hearing loss.
Various injuries such as fractured skull, perforation of the eardrum, or changes in air pressure can contribute to hearing loss.
Injury and hearing damage:
The middle ear is under the protection of the temporal bones, which are at the skull base. A head injury affects the temporal bones and can contribute to hearing loss. Concussions can also cause hearing damage.
Ways you can avoid hearing damage through injury:
- Wear a seat belt every time you are traveling by car.
- Wear a helmet when you go skiing.
- Take precautions when scuba diving.
- Avoid falls.
- Medication: Some people are not aware that certain medications can contribute to hearing loss. These drugs include ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. Ensure that you discuss with your doctor any medication before you take it.
Ways to avoid hearing loss through medications:
- Avoid over-the-counter medication.
- Take medication as directed.
- Learn to consult your health specialist whenever you feel unwell.
Other suggestions for ear care
Here are some of the other ways you can protect your ears:
- Avoid cleaning your ears with sharp objects that can injure the ear canals.
- Lower risks of ear infection by seeking treatment for upper respiratory tract infections.
- Learn to dry your ears well after bathing.
- Do not swim in dirty water.
- Ensure that you vaccinate your child following hospital immunization regulations.
- Make sure that you see a doctor for a prompt diagnosis and treatment in case you fall ill.
In the event that you experience sudden hearing loss, ensure you visit a competent specialist. The doctor who deals with hearing problems is an audiologist. The professional will begin with a hearing screening procedure. If your loss is serious, a hearing tests may be carried out to ascertain the precise issue. There are seven types of vital tests that will diagnose what is afflicting your ears.
- Otoacoustic Emmissions (OAUs).
- Pure tone testing.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR).
- Bone conduction testing.
- Acoustic reflex testing.
- Tympanometry.
- Speech testing.
At times doctors may advise you to wear hearing aids to correct the problem. Make sure you contact the relevant sources before you purchase one.