The new year is the perfect time to focus on self-improvement, and your hearing health deserves a spot on that list. Caring for your ears is an often overlooked aspect of overall well-being, but it’s never too late to start. Let’s take a look at some excellent resolutions to keep your ears in shape throughout the year.
Practice Safe Ear Cleaning
While keeping your ears clean is important, avoid using cotton swabs to remove wax. Cotton swabs can push wax deeper into the ear canal, potentially causing blockages or even damaging your eardrum. Instead, gently clean your outer ears with a damp cloth, making sure to avoid excess water in your eardrums.
Lower the Volume
It’s tempting to crank up the volume on your favorite playlist, but prolonged exposure to loud sounds can lead to hearing loss. The threshold for hearing damage is noise at or above 85 dB over a prolonged period (about the volume of a gas-powered lawn mower). Set decibel limits on your smartphone to help keep you from raising the volume higher than 80 dB.
Pay Attention to the Signs of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss often develops gradually, and you may not always notice it right away. Pay attention to these signs of hearing loss:
- Difficulty understanding speech, especially in noisy environments
- Frequently asking others to repeat themselves
- Turning up the volume on the TV or radio higher than usual
- Trouble hearing high-pitched sounds (like children’s voices or birds)
- Feeling that others are mumbling
- Withdrawing from social interactions
- Ringing or buzzing sounds in the ears (tinnitus)
- Feeling exhausted after listening-heavy situations (parties, work meetings, etc.)
If any of these signs sound familiar, reach out to Kampsen Hearing for a hearing test.
Don’t Wait To Start Hearing Treatment
It’s common for people with hearing loss to delay treatment. Maybe you think your hearing loss isn’t that bad or worry that hearing aids won’t be effective enough. While these concerns are normal, they shouldn’t keep you from enjoying the many benefits hearing aids provide. Here are just a few of those benefits to help you take the leap into treatment:
- Improved communication. Hearing aids amplify speech to help you communicate with the people in your life.
- Increased safety. Hearing aids help you hear important sounds like fire alarms, sirens, honking cars and people shouting “FORE” as a golf ball flies your way at the Countryway Golf Club.
- More energy. Trying to understand people with hearing loss can be exhausting. Hearing aids lessen the strain and fatigue caused by trying to hear.
Don’t wait to experience the benefits of hearing care. Contact Kampsen Hearing today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.