5 ways to protect hearing every day
The saying “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone” has never been more true than when it comes to your hearing. It’s easy to take hearing for granted, but even momentary hearing loss can highlight how vital it is to protect hearing.
People rely on headphones or ear buds to listen to music, stream movies or participate in work-related meetings more than ever before. Having the volume too loud can contribute to hearing loss over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention five in 10 young people listen to music or other audio too loudly. Overall, 48 million people in the U.S. have trouble hearing in one or both ears, and approximately 15 percent of adults 18 years or older report some trouble hearing.
Once it’s gone, hearing cannot be restored in many cases. To protect and guard against future hearing loss, the audiologists at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center suggest the following recommendations:
- Ask for a baseline hearing test. It’s easier to measure hearing loss if there is a baseline. During your annual physical, ask for a hearing test or a referral to an audiologist to help monitor the progression of any future hearing loss.
- Wear hearing protection. There are various types of hearing protection that filter out certain levels of sound. Many earplugs, like those musicians wear or those worn when attending rock concerts, can reduce the sound by approximately 25 dB. Custom fit ear plugs provide more noise reduction, in upwards of 35 to 40 dB. They are optimal for high-noise environments, such as when mowing lawns or operating machinery.
- Turn down the volume. Experts recommend adhering to the 60/60 rule when enjoying audio through headphones. This means listening with headphones at no more than 60 percent volume for no more than 60 minutes a day. Earbuds fit directly next to the eardrum and can be harmful to your hearing.
- Have custom molds made. Rather than turning up the volume, people can have custom ear molds made for use with earphones, which block outside noise, allowing for higher quality listening. However, turning volume up too high could be harmful.
- Keep your ears dry. Moisture in the ear can cause bacteria to grow and potentially lead to infections. Towel-dry ears gently after showering or swimming. Avoid the temptation to use cotton swabs to dry the ears. For the most part, ears are self-cleaning, and using a cotton swab can push wax and cause it to compact in the ear canal.
To learn more about getting your hearing tested, as well as new available technologies to improve hearing, visit www.buffalohearingcenter.com, where you can also take a hearing test online. To make an appointment at one of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center’s four convenient locations, start by calling 716-885-8318.
