Protecting Your Ears From Permanent Hearing Loss

Relying on your senses, especially your hearing, is something that you depend on every day. It's easy to take your hearing for granted. Anytime your inner ear health is compromised, you're putting yourself at an increased risk for impaired or complete hearing loss. In some cases, you may be doing things on a daily basis that could be causing subtle hearing damage. Here are few ways that you can protect your ears now from hearing loss that could occur in the future.

Have Annual Hearing Check-ups

One of the best ways to check for subtle changes in your hearing is to see a hearing specialist or family doctor at least once a year. Healthy adults can have their primary care physician check the health of their inner ear and if there are no significant warning signs or changes, then no referral to a specialist is necessary.

If you've suffered from hearing loss before, or you've noticed substantial changes in your hearing ability, you may want to see an audiologist. He will be able to test your hearing and recommend hearing aids or an advanced medical consultation by an Otolaryngologist or ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist).

Avoid Loud Environments

You can protect your hearing longevity by avoiding loud environments whenever possible. This includes:

• Being in close proximity to high-decibel speakers and music
• Wearing ear buds or headphones on a frequent basis
• Exposure to loud machinery or consistent buzzing and high pitch sounds

Working and playing in noisy locations can put you at an increased risk for permanent hearing loss. Try to limit your exposure whenever necessary.

Wear Ear Protection

Not only should you wear ear protection, such as earplugs when you are exposed to noise, you should also protect your ears throughout the day. This includes wearing plugs when you swim, to prevent water from reaching into your ear canal and eustachian tubes. Water in the ear canal can lead to infection, which can lead to sudden and unexpected hearing loss.

You should also keep your ears covered and protected from cold and windy conditions. Persistent cold air inside your ears can cause damage to the tiny hair cells in your ears—which can be irreversible.

Check Your Family History

Genetics often play a role in hearing loss. If you suspect that your child may have hearing loss, or you have a family history of hearing disorders or disease in the family, see an ENT to have a complete evaluation. If you have a family history of severe vertigo or tinnitus, you should also have the structure of your ears checked by an Otolaryngologist to check for abnormalities within the shape of your inner ear. The Otolaryngologist will then likely refer to you an audiologist who can fit you for a hearing aid system that can be adjusted properly if your hearing is failing. 

Preventing hearing loss is something everyone should incorporate into daily living. If you notice, quick, sudden changes in your hearing, or complete hearing loss, don't hesitate to seek urgent medical care right away. For more information, check out websites like http://www.HearDenver.org.

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