Ways to Care for Your Hearing

Hearing loss can be caused by numerous factors. But did you know that more than 40 million of those who suffer from auditory issues damage their hearing because of excessive noise exposure? If you ask an expert at a hearing clinic, this type of hearing damage can easily be avoided if people practice hearing care and proper safety protocols for noise exposure. Read on to learn a few effective ways you can take care of your hearing. 

Use Proper Hearing Protection 

Sometimes, people cannot help being exposed to excessive noise levels, especially if it is part of their work environment. Those in the construction industry, for example, have to be around heavy equipment that generates anywhere from 80-120 decibels of noise. These can cause hearing damage with just a few hours of exposure. So, if you work in a similar industry, you should practice the proper safety protocols and wear the hearing protection that your employer provides. 

You should also wear hearing protection when using equipment like leaf blowers and gas-powered lawnmowers at home. Something like a leaf blower can produce at least 95 decibels of noise. This can damage your hearing in just 2 hours of exposure. 

Recreational events in large venues filled with many people, such as rock concerts and football games, can be just as bad for your ears as a noisy construction site. The combined sound of amplified music and the roar of screaming fans can go up to 120 decibels. One should always buy some earplugs or earmuffs before going to these kinds of events.

Give Your Ears a Rest

If you do not have the proper hearing protection in a noisy recreational environment, try to give your ears a break from time to time. You can step out of the venue for a few minutes and find a quiet place where you can give your ears some rest. Do this in regular intervals to avoid incurring hearing damage.

If you spent the previous day in a noisy environment, try avoiding exposure for another day. Experts say that your ears need at least 16 hours to fully recuperate.

Listen to Music in Moderation

Listening to music is a beloved pastime for people of all ages. People often get carried away and crank up the volume to 100 percent of their music player’s capacity. This can easily damage their hearing in just 15 minutes of constant use.

It is best to avoid using the maximum volume setting all together. If you still want to, make sure never to listen for more than 15 minutes. A hearing expert will tell you to practice the 60/60 rule. This means that you only set your device to 60 percent of the volume and only listen for 60 minutes at a time.

You should also avoid using earbuds. These devices concentrate the sound waves and deliver them directly into your ear canal. Opt for over-the-ear headphones instead if you frequently use your music player.

Exercise Regularly

When people think of exercise, they usually do not associate it with better hearing. However, regular physical activity can help you maintain your hearing health. When you exercise, you stimulate your circulatory system and increase the blood flow to your ears. This helps keep the little hairs inside your ear that are responsible for perceiving sound in good condition. Exercise can also aid you in avoiding any cardiovascular diseases which indirectly cause some hearing loss.

Get Your Hearing Checked Annually

Hearing loss is a condition that develops gradually. People do not often realize that they are developing hearing issues until it affects their daily lives. To ensure that you maintain your auditory health, you should visit a local hearing center every year to get your ears checked. They can help you assess your hearing ability with special diagnostic tests and tools to make sure everything is normal. 

They can also spot early warning signs of a developing condition and start treatment before it becomes a problem that affects your quality of life. If ever you already have more permanent auditory issues, they can help you find ways to manage your condition. They can also aid you in finding the right hearing aids and assistive listening devices that may artificially improve your ability to perceive sound.  

These are some ways to care for your hearing. Make sure to call your local hearing clinicfor more advice on how you can protect your auditory health.