Tips for Hearing Protection

Hearing is a precious commodity that must be protected at all times, as exposure to harmful and noisy environments is increasing. However, most of us do not take the necessary steps to protect our hearing and this is the main reason why more than half of the population faces hearing loss. Most of the time hearing loss is not reversible , so prevention is more important than cure.

1. Pay attention to everyday noise. Research has shown that any noise above 85dB is harmful to our ears and hearing. Devices that we use every day exceed this limit and damage our hearing. For example, when listening to music with your headphones, keep the volume of the music low and try to limit use to one hour a day.
   
2. Beware of background noise. Research suggests that exposure to loud noise, even in isolated instances, is just as harmful as exposure to the everyday noises mentioned earlier. Concerts, fireworks are particularly damaging to our hearing, yet most people do not prepare accordingly. You can use earplugs if you know you will be exposed to certain noisy environments.
   
3. Pay attention to health problems that put your hearing at risk. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, allergies or other chronic conditions are at greater risk of developing hearing loss.
   
4. Don’t ignore earwax. It may seem insignificant, but wax buildup can clog our ears and cause temporary hearing loss, especially when the wax is pushed inward every time we try to clean our ears. If there is already a build-up of wax you should see an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) for a cleaning.

Do not ignore signs of problematic hearing. If you hear a ringing in your ears, see your doctor as soon as possible. This discomfort can be a first sign of a more serious condition. Protecting the ears is essential to overall human health. Therefore, you need to make sure that you protect them adequately.

In any case, your hearing health is definitely something worth protecting. An appointment with your ENT or hearing care professional, who will recommend the right hearing aids and how to keep your ears healthy and harmless, can prove to be a great investment.