Loud noises, or even ones that don’t vibrate the walls, can have negative effects on your hearing over time. While the risk of hearing loss is lower when you are young, as time goes on, the percentage increases to nearly 40% of adults having problems with hearing. However, there is a way to prevent hearing loss, or at least prolong it for a little longer. Try out one of these six hearing habits in your daily life, and keep your hearing in top shape.
6. Don’t Put Things in Your Ears
Starting our list of hearing habits is to refrain from putting anything in your ears. This mostly refers to cotton swabs or other hard objects that can injure the ear canal or eardrum. Instead, clean your ears with a washcloth over your finger. If you ever get a buildup of earwax that is hindering your hearing, get it professionally cleaned by your provider.
5. Give Your Ears a Break
Fifth on our list of hearing habits is giving your ears a break. In the age of technology, headphones, earbuds, and other noises constantly bombard our senses. The best thing to do is take periodic breaks from headphones and other loud noises to reduce exposure. This includes limiting your time listening to anything above 85 decibels, which can be particularly damaging. Quiet environments are the best place to start when you need a rest.
4. Keep Up on Immunizations
Next on our list of hearing habits is staying up-to-date on immunizations. While this may seem unconnected, it’s quite important to your ear health. Certain illnesses, like measles, mumps, whooping cough, and bacterial infections, can negatively affect your hearing. By getting the recommended vaccinations, you can prevent contracting these illnesses in the future.
3. Get a Baseline Hearing Test
Rounding out the top three hearing habits on our list is getting a baseline hearing test. Many adults have never had a hearing test. While not necessary, it does prove useful to establish a baseline so your provider can compare with future hearing tests to monitor any progression of hearing loss. During your next physical, ask your provider about scheduling a hearing test with an audiologist.
2. Monitor Device Volumes
Second on our list of hearing habits is being mindful of your device volume. Whether it’s a TV, radio, speaker, or home sound system, keeping these devices at a comfortable sound level can help keep your ears happy. It should be loud enough that you do not strain to hear the sounds, but not loud enough that you can hear it in another room. This also applies to headphones and earbuds, especially since they go right in or over the ear.
1. Wear Protective Gear
Last but not least on our hearing habits list is wearing proper protection. If you happen to be in a noisy environment or need to use a loud piece of equipment, ear protection is crucial. This can be either earplugs or earmuffs, as they can help filter out extreme noises and protect your hearing for years to come. Ear protection should be considered if you are going to a concert, construction site, noisy workplace, airports or other transportation stations, lawn mowing, auto racing, hunting, or shooting.