6 Ways to improve your hearing and prevent hearing loss

January 13, 2023

Caring for your hearing health is essential regardless of your age. Not only does it reduce the risk of suffering from irreversible hearing loss. Keeping the ears in excellent shape also significantly impacts the quality of sound and other listening aspects, including speech segmentation. In this article, we explore six ways to improve your hearing and prevent hearing loss.

1. Avoid loud noises

Loud noise is one of the most significant causes of hearing loss, so you should consider protecting your ears from excessive noise. The following are ways to protect your ears from excessive noise:

● Move further away from sources of loud noise
● Turn the volume of devices like the television, earphones, and sound system down
● Wear fireworks hearing protection or earplugs when you cannot avoid or limit exposure to noisy environments

2. Schedule routine ear wax removal

The outer ear glands secrete ear wax, also called cerumen, to protect the delicate or inner part of the ear from bacteria, infection, and foreign particles. Over time, excess ear wax builds up, causing discomfort and partial hearing loss. For this reason, you should consider removing excessive ear wax to improve hearing and prevent hearing loss.

However, avoid removing the ear wax yourself because you could damage your ear canal’s delicate lining. Instead, schedule an appointment with an ear wax removal specialist for professional cleaning.

3. Quit smoking

If you are looking for yet another reason for smoking cessation, here is one: studies show that 60% of smokers have high-frequency hearing loss. This is because blood flow and oxygen help maintain healthy cells in the inner ears. However, when you smoke, the nicotine and carbon monoxide from the cigarette hamper oxygen and blood flow, resulting in hearing loss.

Smoking also interrupts the eustachian tube’s normal function and irritates the middle ear’s lining. Nicotine also obstructs neurotransmitters, the chemicals that send messages from the hearing nerves to your brain. It also results in the ringing of the ears, also referred to as tinnitus.

4. Wear hearing aids

If a medical professional prescribes hearing aids because you are suffering from hearing damage or a specific level of hearing loss, you should wear them as instructed. Hearing aids do not only improve your hearing; they can also prevent further hearing loss.

Hearing aids come in different shapes and sizes, so if you notice any discomfort while wearing your hearing aids, do not hesitate to contact your healthcare provider for recommendations of appropriate size. This ensures you wear your hearing aids more frequently for better results.

5. Be cautious with medications

Whether or not you have been diagnosed with hearing loss, you should always review medication and supplements before taking them. This is because certain medications, including antimalarial drugs, chemotherapy treatment, and antibiotics, to mention a few, cause side effects like hearing loss.
If you notice hearing loss as a side effect of your prescription medications, consider speaking to your healthcare provider. The doctor can recommend an alternative treatment to reduce the risk of hearing loss.

6. Keep the ears dry

Be sure to dry your ears with a clean towel after bathing or swimming to prevent excessive moisture from entering the ear canals. Water causes wax buildup and infections, leading to hearing issues.

Endnote

Hearing loss does not only impact your overall health. It also causes you to isolate yourself from those around you, resulting in depression and isolation. Avoid loud noises, quit smoking, wear hearing aids, keep your ears dry, and schedule routine ear wax removal to improve your hearing and prevent hearing loss.

Health Care Asia
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