We are constantly bombarded with health information. Whether it’s commercials on the television, public service announcements, radio adverts or leaflets and posters plastered around the local area. It is clear that health services want us to ensure that we get our eyes tested, maintain good oral health and conduct personal health checks while remembering to pop into our local doctor’s surgery whenever we experience sickness or illness. But one area truly does seem to slip under the radar: auditory health. But hearing is just as important as any of our other senses, and our ears are equally important as any other bodily part. Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining good quality hearing throughout your lifetime.
Keep Q Tips Out of Your Ears
We’re all guilty of using a Q tip or cotton swab every now and then to remove wax from our inner ears. But there are warnings against this on their packets for a good reason. First, ear wax is good for us. It helps to waterproof our inner ears, trap dirt, bacteria, and debris and prevent creepy crawlies from entering our ear canals. If you do have excessive wax, have your ears cleaned professionally. This will reduce the likelihood of you inflicting damage upon yourself by perforating your eardrum with a cotton swab.
Recognize Common Hearing Problems
It is likely that your hearing will deteriorate somewhat as you age. However, there are other common auditory problems that you can keep an eye out for. Take tinnitus as an example. Tinnitus is a relatively common problem that results in a constant ringing sound within your ears. It can be brought on by exposure to excessively loud noise, ear blockages, or joint disorders. This can, however, be treated. Luckily, there are plenty of tinnitus treatment options available so the problem can be rectified relatively easily in many cases. Remember, if you experience any abnormalities or changes in your ability to hear, contact your doctor. They will be able to conduct an examination on you and propose the best treatments available to you.
Keep The Volume Down
Excessively loud noise can damage your hearing permanently. Your ear canals have thousands of tiny hairs in them. These vibrate when sound waves pass them and these signals can then be transferred to your brain, allowing you to hear effectively. So, when wearing headphones or earphones, keep the volume down. If you are heading to a concert, gig or music festival, use earplugs. While music doesn’t have to be at whisper level, playing music full blast on a regular basis can flatten the hairs in your ears, rendering them useless. The worst part? They won’t regrow so the damage will be notable and permanent.
Acknowledge Treatments
While hearing problems may not be reversible, there are often options that can help your condition or symptoms. Hearing aids are perhaps the most common and recognizable. While they don’t rectify your hearing, they will help to amplify noise. This will allow you to continue engaging in conversation and listening out for danger or enjoying music.
Following these simple steps will allow you access to the best quality hearing possible throughout your lifetime. So stick to them!
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