5 Simple Habits That Can Help Prevent Hearing Loss

By Your Health Magazine

Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent health conditions in the world. About 20% of the global population experiences some type of hearing loss, from children to seniors. There are many different types of hearing loss and many different causes, including injury, accidents, exposure to loud or acute noises, exposure to consistently loud noises (such as at the workplace), or even genetics. Hearing loss can also simply be the result of aging.

Despite the prevalence of hearing loss, there are practices and measures you can take to help prevent unnecessary hearing loss. Some of these are practices that you can start now to help protect your hearing as you get older.

#1 Get Your Hearing Tested

Getting your hearing tested can identify hearing loss before it worsens and find an appropriate treatment. For the most part, hearing aids cannot prevent further hearing loss, but they can help prevent loss of comprehension and improve your day-to-day life by amplifying the sounds that you struggle to hear.

You can get your hearing tested at an audiology clinic like Toronto Hearing Consultants. An audiology clinic will test for hearing loss and consult you on a treatment plan that may include wearing a hearing aid.

#2 Use Earplugs at Loud Events

One of the most significant risk factors for hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. Noise-induced hearing loss can occur for two reasons:

Long-term exposure to persistent loud noises.
Short-term exposure to very loud noises.

Concerts, live sports, firework shows, and loud recreational vehicles like snowmobiles can damage your hearing permanently. If you are attending a loud event or participating in a loud activity, invest in a pair of earplugs. Inexpensive foam earplugs will do the trick.

#3 Understand Workplace Risks

Noise exposure at the workplace should be taken seriously. Workplace exposure to noise is persistent, and even if you do not find the sounds to be painful, exposure can cause long-term hearing loss later on.

Workplace exposure to noise should not exceed 85 dBA (decibels) throughout an 8-hour day. For reference, a conversation typically happens around 60 dBA, while a jackhammer produces sounds that are around 120 to 130 dBA. For many workers, the danger zone is made up of noises that are too loud to be safe, but do not feel immediately painful.

#4 Be Smart About Headphones

Be smart about using headphones. One way you can protect your hearing is the 60/60 rule. The rule is that you should not listen to headphones at higher than 60% of the maximum volume for longer than 60 minutes. Over-the-ear headphones may also be safer for your hearing than earbuds.

#5 Clean Your Ears – The Right Way

Cleaning your ears can help prevent wax buildup, which can muffle sounds and harm your hearing. However, cleaning your ears the wrong way can be even more harmful. Avoid using cotton swabs, as you run the risk of pushing wax deeper into the canal or leaving traces of cotton behind to obstruct your hearing. Ears should be cleaned using safe implements or by a professional.

These habits can help prevent and identify hearing loss.