5 tips for looking after your hearing
Hearing is delicate and susceptible to irreparable damage, even from everyday activities and environments that you might not consider to be a threat.
The theme of Deaf Awareness Week 2020 is ‘acquired hearing loss’, so we are sharing some simple things you can do to protect your hearing from environmental factors.
1. Avoid loud noises
Most people are aware that places like nightclubs and rock concerts can do damage to your hearing, but there are many loud noises in everyday life that can also cause problems. Things like lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, drills, hairdryers, or lots of traffic can all create a very loud environment.
It’s sensible to become familiar with the decibel levels of everyday activities and sounds and use the chart below to check what kind of risk they might pose.
2. Use soundproof ear protection
If you are ever exposed to loud environments - at work, at home, or during leisure activities - consider wearing soundproof ear defenders or earplugs for the duration of your exposure to the loud sounds.
3. Limit how often you listen to loud music
Listening to loud music through headphones and earphones can do damage to your hearing. Only listen to music at a volume that feels totally comfortable and try to avoid turning the volume up any higher than 60 per cent. Take regular breaks and try not to listen to music through headphones for any longer than an hour at a time.
4. Know the warning signs
It can be helpful to identify some of the warning signs that you’ve been exposed to unhealthy noise levels.
If, for example, you notice you aren’t able to hear as well as you could before, or if there is a ringing or buzzing in your ears, you might need to take a break from any loud noises and consider getting your hearing checked.
5. Ear care
Like any other part of your body, it is important to take good care of your ears and hearing. By getting an annual hearing check-up with an audiologist, you can keep on top of how your hearing is doing and catch any potential issues early.
Never stick anything into your ear canals – including cottons buds or a finger.
Be vigilant and if you ever notice a change in your hearing, seek advice from an audiologist as soon as possible. Like most health issues, the quicker you act the quicker you can avoid things getting worse.
Give your ears a rest. By staying away from any loud noises as much as you can, your ears can rest and recover, which is important in maintaining good hearing health.
Article source: hearingdogs.org.uk
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