Hearing Loss Prevention: Tips to Protect Your Hearing
There are many health issues that seniors may face, so if you're getting older, it's important to be aware of them. You should then make lifestyle changes as needed to prevent issues and slow decline as much as possible.
One issue that you'll want to look out for is hearing loss. Age-related hearing loss is common and many seniors experience it as they get older. Among all age groups, hearing loss is most common in seniors ranging from ages 60 to 69.
To protect your hearing and keep your ears as healthy as possible, there are some steps that you'll want to take. The right hearing loss prevention and ear health tips can help ensure your hearing stays sharp as you age.
Useful Hearing Loss Prevention Tips
Not all hearing loss is preventable. However, these steps can reduce your risk and reduce the hearing loss you experience as a senior.
Know What to Look For
The first step to preventing hearing loss is to be sure that you've educated yourself as much as possible. Understanding how hearing loss occurs, knowing what symptoms to look for, and staying alert can help you keep your hearing as sharp as possible as time goes on.
Always pay attention to issues and take note of any changes that occur to your hearing in your daily life. This will give you the best chance of hearing well as you get older and retire in Bellefontaine, OH.
Eliminate Loud Noises
To avoid hearing loss, stay away from loud noises as much as possible. You should take special care when spending time in loud environments or when using loud tools and equipment. Consider using earplugs or another type of auditory protection when you:
- Use power tools
- Spend time on construction sites
- Go to concerts
By doing a bit of preparation and doing the simple action of putting earplugs in your ears, you can prevent noise-induced hearing loss and do a better job of maintaining your hearing as time goes on.
Be Careful With Headphones
A simple thing that you can do for preventing hearing impairment is to ensure you always listen to headphones with caution. Avoid turning up the volume too loud when using headphones, since this is a major contributor to hearing loss.
Loud music can be particularly damaging if you turn up the volume too high with headphones on. Make sure that you're being reasonable with volume levels whenever using headphones.
Keep Your Ears Clean
When maintaining hearing health, it's important to keep your ears clean and to keep good hygiene at all times. Be sure to clean your ears properly with an at-home irrigation kit rather than using cotton swabs, since these can actually cause wax to go deeper into your ear. Cotton swabs can end up causing ear canal damage and hurting the eardrum if used in this way.
If ear wax builds up in your ears, you may need to go to a doctor to get it removed to ensure that it doesn't cause hearing problems. Inserting any object into the ears can be a recipe for problems, so always avoid doing so. Clean your ears with safe techniques instead.
Schedule Regular Doctor Visits
To protect your hearing and maintain overall health, it's a good idea to visit a doctor on a regular basis. Make sure that you get regular medical checkups and hearing evaluations to keep yourself as healthy as possible.
Especially once you're 50 or older, getting your hearing tested annually is ideal. This will help ensure any hearing problems are discovered and diagnosed before they develop further. You may even want to visit a doctor more often if you spend time in noisy places or work regularly in loud environments.
Improve Your Overall Wellbeing
Remember that maintaining your overall health can help protect your hearing as well. Be sure that you're exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals, and drinking plenty of water.
When you stay active and eat healthy foods, you'll improve your blood circulation. This can help preserve the health of your ears as well.
Conditions such as stress can lead to increased blood pressure and can increase the risk of hearing problems. If you're currently lacking in certain areas of health and aren't doing everything you can to maintain your wellness, get started. Your sense of hearing will thank you for it as well.
What to Do If You Experience Hearing Loss
If you suspect that you're beginning to experience hearing loss, you should visit a specialist as soon as you can to get diagnosed and to discuss potential solutions. It may be time to start using a listening-assisted device to ensure you have an easier time participating in conversation and hearing as you go about daily activities. You may also need to make some lifestyle changes to prevent further hearing loss and to ensure that you can keep your ears as healthy as possible.
Getting professional assistance and guidance is key to protecting your hearing, so be sure to visit a specialist. They'll be able to work out a plan that's right for you and help with your specific hearing needs.
Following These Hearing Loss Prevention Tips
The sooner you start following these hearing loss prevention tips, the better off you'll be. Especially if you're over 50, you'll want to start taking steps to protect your hearing and staying on top of the health of your ears immediately. Avoiding loud noises, keeping your ears clean, and getting regular hearing evaluations can help you protect your hearing as time goes on.
If you're looking for ways to live a better life as a senior, you may want to consider assisted living. Moving into a senior living community in Bellefontaine, OH, can be well worth it and can help you have the ideal life in your senior years.
Want to learn more about our assisted living community's amenities and services? Contact us today to learn more about what our assisted living community can offer you and to schedule a tour.