Hearing Loss Prevention Tips

At Fairway Hearing Center, we help people living with hearing loss find solutions that allow them to have a better quality of life. While some cases of hearing loss are attributed to genetics, health conditions, age, or medications, others are preventable. Some can even be alleviated or prevented with lifestyle changes. If you are concerned about hearing loss, our team has some tips to help you prevent the delicate tissues of your inner ear from being damaged.

Protect Yourself from Loud Noises

One of the main causes of hearing loss is exposure to loud noises. Whenever you are exposed to sounds above 85 decibels, it has the potential to damage the fragile structures of the inner ear and cause hearing loss in the long term. The more frequently you are exposed to loud noises, or the longer your duration of exposure, the greater the risk will be. If you are not sure what constitutes a loud noise, here are some examples of common sounds and their decibel levels:

Exposure to sounds below 80 decibels is considered safe for any amount of time. Exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause damage in as little as 15 minutes. That’s why it is important to protect yourself when you know you will be at risk. We suggest wearing earplugs daily if you work in a loud environment, like a construction site or factory. Of course, even short exposure times can cause damage, so be sure to wear hearing protection any time you use power tools or mow the lawn. If you plan to attend a concert, sporting event, or fireworks display, earplugs are also a good idea.

Make Lifestyle Changes

Many preventable or manageable health conditions can lead to hearing loss. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. In many cases, these conditions and their symptoms can be eliminated or managed through lifestyle changes. We suggest speaking to a doctor about your risk factors and finding out what you can do to address them. For example, you may be able to get your blood pressure under control through diet, exercise, and medication.

If you have type 2 diabetes, controlling your blood sugar can prevent hearing loss in the long term. If you smoke, vape, or use alcohol, you are at a higher risk of developing health conditions like heart disease and high blood pressure that can cause hearing loss. By cutting these habits out of your life, you can greatly improve your chances of hearing clearly well into old age.

Clean Your Ears Properly

In some cases, hearing loss is caused by physical factors, like impacted earwax or damage to the eardrum. You can help eliminate these issues for better hearing if you clean your ears correctly. Although cotton swabs are the most common method of cleaning wax from the ears, doctors do not recommend using them at all. That’s because cotton swabs can push wax down into the ear canal, causing impaction, and they can even rupture the eardrum, permanently affecting your ability to hear.

For most people, frequent ear cleaning is not necessary. Your ears clean themselves, and trying to clean them at home can potentially lead to wax impaction or damage to the eardrums. Instead, talk to your doctor about the best way to keep your ears clean. They may be able to clean your ears during an appointment using methods like irrigation that fully cleans wax without the potential for injury that comes from using cotton swabs.

If you notice wax buildup between professional cleanings, it’s best to wipe it away from the outer ear using a damp cloth rather than inserting anything into the ear canal. If you do not have impacted wax, any debris should remove itself from your ear canal over time. Be aware that if you regularly wear earplugs or use a hearing aid, you may need more frequent cleanings. Again, speaking to your doctor will help you determine the best way to keep your ears clean.

Hearing Specialist Serving Lewes, DE

Even if you take preventative measures and look after your health and hygiene, you may still develop hearing loss as you age or due to other factors. If you need advice about the best hearing aids available in the Delaware area, the Fairway Hearing Center team will gladly assist you. 

Call us at (302) 251-8252 or request an appointment online if you need a hearing specialist in Lewes, DE, or anywhere else nearby!