Terri Ramsey Beavers Hearing is precious, and once it is damaged, you can’t get it back. There is a reason that there are so many ways that you can take care of your hearing. The best action to take is preventative steps. You shouldn’t wait till you think you have an issue to prevent tinnitus or a burst eardrum.
Here are some actionable tips that will help you protect your hearing for longer.
Photo by Barrett Ward on Unsplash
Ditch Cotton Buds
There is something so deeply satisfying about using a cotton bud. And, because of that, people tend to use them in the wrong way. Most people simply clean out some of the wax that is in their ear canal. But the wax in your ears is essential. The ears are fantastic self-cleaning organs, and wax stops bacteria, debris, and other nasty things getting in and cause havoc.
You are also at risk of puncturing your eardrum, which is painful and can lead to a lot of other problems.
If you suffer from hard wax or build-ups, you can use overnight solutions to soften it, and the wax will flow out on its own.
Volume
If you have been enjoying headphones at a high volume for years, there is some bad news for you. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), millions of young adults are at risk of hearing damage due to the volume at which they listen to music.
There is a simple rule you can stick to call ed the 60/60 rule. You listen to music on your headphones at a maximum of 60% for only 60 minutes a day.
In general, though, any loud music will have an impact on your hearing. And, if you do nothing to change it, you are likely to have noise-induced hearing loss.
Recovery Time
Much like the rest of you, your ears need to be rested. If you go to a club, or a live music event, the music can be stunningly loud. If you are shouting to be heard, this is an indicator you will certainly need to relax your ears for most of the following day. A single loud night out requires around 16 hours of ‘quiet’ to recover fully.
So make sure that if you are heading to a live music event or any other very noisy event, the following day is cleared to let your ears take a break.
Swimmer’s Ear
If you tend to hit the beach, swimming pool or keep your head under water for any period of time, you might find you end with swimmer’s ear. Water managed to sit in the ear canal for a little too long and allows bacteria in.
The result is a painful ear infection. After you’ve had your ears submerged for any length of time, tilt your head to the side for a few minutes and pull your earlobe to let any trapped water be released.
Small steps can help you protect your hearing for years to come. They are one of the senses that always get heavily used by most of us, and they deserve some care.