Do you ever go to a concert and leave feeling like your ears are ringing or everything sounds muffled? This could be a sign of hearing loss. There are several ways that you can protect your hearing, but let’s start with what is hearing loss?
What are Some Common Causes of Hearing Loss?
Hearing loss is caused by damage to the inner ears in
people of all ages. Hearing loss can manifest suddenly, temporarily or gradually. This can be due to exposure to loud noises, certain medical conditions, genetics or seemingly harmless everyday activities.
- Loud environments: Concerts, machinery, heavy traffic, or even noisy workplaces.
- Listening to music at high volumes: Earbuds or headphones can be dangerous at high volumes.
- Exposure to gunshots or explosions: Often overlooked in terms of hearing protection.
- Scuba diving: If unable to equalize your ears appropriately, hearing loss can occur due to the significant pressure changes, also known as barotrauma
- Age-related hearing loss: As people age, hearing sensitivity tends to decrease.
How to Protect Your Hearing
- Earplugs: There are many different types of ear plugs ranging from – foam, silicone to custom-molded
- Noise-canceling headphones: These can help reduce exposure to loud sounds and decrease volume needed to hear
- Earmuffs: Best used in environments with extremely loud noise.
- Combination: You can even use foam ear plugs at the same time as earmuffs for an additional protective benefit.
- Volume Control:
- The 60/60 rule (listen at 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time).
- Taking Breaks: While in loud environments, be sure to give your ears rest by stepping into a quieter environment periodically
- Avoiding Loud Environments: if no adequate hearing protection available
How to Identify Hearing Loss Early
- Signs of hearing loss: Difficulty understanding conversations, needing to turn up the TV, ringing or buzzing in your ears (tinnitus) after loud activities
- Hearing tests: If you are concerned about your hearing, it is always beneficial to have your hearing tested to ensure no hearing loss has occurred.
The Long-Term Benefits of Protecting Your Hearing
Protecting hearing now can prevent permanent damage and improve the quality of life in the long run. Adequate hearing protects your cognition, decreases risk of isolation and improves your mental health. Thankfully, protecting your ears is simple, effective, and affordable. Take your hearing into your own hands today—your ears (and your future self) will thank you!
