Over 37 million American adults, or approximately 15%, report that they have some trouble hearing. While hearing loss is sometimes inevitable, you can adopt small habits to slow or delay its progression and keep your ears in healthy shape for as long as possible.
Wear Hearing Protection
Noise-induced hearing loss is the second-most common cause of hearing loss, and its prevalence is rising in our noisy, modern world. If you know you’re going to be at a loud event, such as a concert or a sports event, or if you’re going to be doing a loud activity, such as snow blowing or motorbiking, take the extra step to protect your ears with earplugs or earmuffs.
Turn the Volume Down
Speakers are growing more advanced and sophisticated, as are headphones and earbuds. Be wary of the effect these entertainment devices can have on your hearing if the volume is too loud. A good rule of thumb is to keep volume at 60% of its maximum when watching TV or listening to music.
Take Regular Breaks from Loud Noise
If you’ve been in a noisy environment or been doing a loud activity for a long period of time, remember to take a step back to give your ears a break. This could be done by stepping outside, taking a bathroom break or simply exiting the room and going somewhere else for five minutes.
Know Your Tinnitus and Its Triggers
Tinnitus is a unique condition for each person, and a multitude of factors can make it more intense. If you suffer from tinnitus, try to discern what makes your tinnitus flare up. Keep a diary of moments where it got louder, changed pitch or otherwise became more of a nuisance and note what you were doing, where you were, how you felt or anything else that could be relevant. Knowing your tinnitus triggers can help you manage your tinnitus symptoms.
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Our bodies are complex, and no aspect of our health is separate from the whole. To that end, maintaining a healthy lifestyle by eating well, staying active, and staying hydrated is crucial for your hearing health. Try to make a habit of drinking 64 ounces of water a day, ensuring that at least one meal every day contains a fruit or a vegetable or getting 10,000 steps a day.
Manage Stress Levels
Stress and tinnitus are very closely linked, so managing your stress levels is a great way to maintain hearing health and manage your tinnitus. Relaxing techniques, such as yoga, meditation or journaling, can help with stress relief and are easy to incorporate into your daily routine.
Don’t Use Cotton Swabs
It is not recommended to clean earwax from your ears with cotton swabs. Inserting cotton swabs or any other foreign object into your ear can harm your eardrum or lead to compacted earwax, both of which can cause conductive hearing loss.
When to Seek Help
All these habits are a great place to start, but they’re no substitute for professional hearing loss or tinnitus management. If your symptoms are interfering with your daily life, or if your loved ones are taking notice, it’s time to visit an audiologist. Call Gary D. Schwartzberg, Au.D., Doctor of Audiology today to make an appointment.