How To Prevent Noise-Induced Hearing Loss?
Exposure to loud noises damages the hair cells in the inner ear, which can not regenerate once they die. Protect yourself from noise-induced hearing loss in the following ways:
- Wear hearing protection - Those who work in high-noise environments like construction sites or factories need special hearing protection to protect their hearing long-term. The audiologists at ZN Audiology provide custom hearing protection like earmolds and custom earplugs that can be tailored to your specific lifestyle and occupational needs.
- Turn down the volume - Globally, 1 billion teens and young adults are at the risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss from audio devices. It’s good practice to follow the 60/60 rule when you listen to audio through earbuds or headphones. Listen at no higher than 60 percent volume for no longer than 60 minutes per day.
- Let your ears recover - Our ears need an average of 16 hours to recover after just one day of loud noise exposure. If you are in the middle of a loud event and are able to leave, intermittently walk away from the source of noise for five minutes to give your ears a break.
Tips For Healthy Hearing From New York’s #1 Hearing Doctor
Get Regular Hearing Evaluations
If you’ve ever looked up ‘hearing test near me’ online, then you are going about your hearing health the responsible way. Hearing tests are a critical part of taking care of your overall health, especially if you’re aged 50 or older. The first step in identifying any type or degree of hearing loss is getting your hearing checked by a qualified audiologist. Hearing loss is not something that happens overnight, so it’s important to schedule annual hearing check-ups with a professional who can identify early signs of hearing loss, and take action. Untreated hearing loss not only greatly reduces one’s quality of life, it’s also linked to depression, dementia, and an increased likelihood of falling.
Manage Stress To Avoid Tinnitus
There’s a reason why the search term ‘tinnitus specialist near me’ yields so many results online. Tinnitus affects a whopping 32 percent of the population in the United States, and is even more common within the hearing-imparied community. Although stress on its own does not directly cause tinnitus, it can make existing tinnitus symptoms worse. Mindfulness and other types of relaxation therapy can help to mitigate the symptoms and intensity of your tinnitus. Tinnitus is usually temporary and will resolve on its own, but in some cases, it can be permanent.
It’s also important to note that tinnitus can be triggered by many factors other than stress, such as hearing loss, exposure to loud noise, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint dysfunction.) The team at ZN Audiology is highly experienced at providing tinnitus evaluations, and can recommend one or more treatments based on your individual needs.
Quit Smoking & Save Your Hearing
Smoking is a known risk factor for hearing loss. In fact, one research study found that smokers were 60 percent more likely to have high-frequency hearing loss when compared to non-smokers. This is because the nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes lowers blood oxygen and restricts blood flow in the entire body, including in the inner ear. Poor blood flow and lowered blood oxygen can cause permanent damage to the sensory cells in the inner ear.
Don’t Use Cotton Swabs To Clean Your Ears
Our ears are self-cleaning. Jaw movements such as chewing or talking, combined with skin growing inside our ears actually pushes old earwax out naturally. Moreover, ear wax is healthy because it traps dirt, dust and foreign particles. Despite all of this, many people cannot resist the temptation of cleaning out their ears with cotton swabs. The problem with cotton swabs is that they can push ear wax deeper inside your ear canal, and damage your eardrum or the delicate surrounding skin.
Sometimes, an excess buildup of earwax can cause uncomfortable symptoms like pain, itching, odor, discharge, tinnitus, or a feeling that your ear is full. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care provider or an audiologist for an evaluation. They are trained to identify excess wax build-up and remove it safely.
If you’ve searched for ‘best audiologist near me’ but not yet found a provider, look no further than ZN Audiology. We are an independent, patient-focused practice that treats our patients like family. If you would like more information about how to care for your hearing, book an appointment online at ZN Audiology today!
ZN Audiology is an independently-owned audiology practice that believes hearing health should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we provide everything from pediatric audiology to customized hearing aids at competitive prices. You can put your ‘affordable hearing aids near me’ searches to rest when you come to ZN Audiology. Our practice is conveniently located in Brooklyn and Queens, NY. If you would like to schedule a visit or have questions about our services, book an appointment online or call (718)-568-5227.
