How Can You Prevent Damage to Your Hearing?
Your hearing is precious—and that’s an understatement. As one of your most vital senses, looking after your hearing should be one of your very top priorities.
As the primary organ for hearing and balance, your ears are not to be abused. Although like most of your body’s biological systems, they will experience wear and tear over the years, looking after your ears now will save you from a host of hearing problems in the future.
But, how do you look after your hearing exactly? Well, read on because as one of Perth’s leading hearing & audiology specialists, we’re going to tell you how.
Let’s get started.
How to look after your hearing: essential tips & best practices
Lyric is a new model of hearing aid that has been compared to contact lenses, in that patients have the device inserted into their ear canal where it stays for weeks at a time, sitting invisibly and requiring no maintenance until it is replaced by an audiologist. As the device is in situ for extended periods and requires professional help to remove, it has several implications on medical practice. The Lyric Information for Doctors booklet covers these implications and can be found below.
Avoid continual loud noise
Of course, if you live in a fairly bustling town or city like Perth, loud noise is hard to avoid. But, to define loud noise—the potentially damaging kind—you should steer clear of any sounds (speakers, amplifiers, construction or crowd noise, etc.) that cause you to shout. Make a habit of avoiding these noises where possible and if you are exposed to loud sounds frequently, invest in some quality ear plugs or protectors.
Remove earwax correctly
Earwax is a natural substance designed to protect the eardrum and help to fight infections. Having wax in your ear is healthy but an excess buildup can reduce or muffle sound and cause distress. While you might need to remove the excess from your ear canal, using a cotton bud is likely to cause damage to your hearing. That said, if you need to get rid of some earwax, use a trusted home irrigation kit or consult the services of a professional.
Try not to smoke
Not many people know this, but smoking tobacco can increase the likelihood of hearing loss or damage overtime—another solid incentive to quit if you need to. If you’re a smoker, seeking help or advice on how to give up will help to preserve your hearing and if you’re not, steering clear of second hand smoke is also advisable.
Book a hearing test
If you feel there may be any issues (including a distinct ringing in your ear or you have trouble listening to conversations) with your hearing whatsoever or hearing loss runs in the family, don’t live in doubt or fear—book a professional hearing test. Your typical test is painless and non invasive—read our guide on what to expect from a hearing lost screen test and find out for yourself.