The only preventable cause of hearing loss is noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). When you expose yourself to loud sounds, it may feel like you are adjusting to them over time, but it is unfortunately not the case for your ears and brain.
The moment you start to lose your hearing from exposing it to loud sounds, it will not recover even though it can usually be treated. Noise-induced hearing loss is mostly gradual — by the time you notice it, it is often too late to prevent the damage caused.
Here are a few hearing protection tips on how you can start protecting your ears:
- If at all possible, avoid loud or noisy activities and places.
- If you can’t avoid noisy situations, use hearing protection. Foam earplugs are an economical solution, but custom-fit hearing protection products are even better to assist with reducing sound levels.
- Limit your time exposed to noises above 85 decibels.
- Turn down the volume on the TV, radio, or when listening to headphones.
- When you listen to loud sounds such as music, concerts, fitness classes, etc. try to take breaks from the noise.
- If you are close to a loud sound source such as a speaker or siren, try to move away from it.
- Give your ears time to recover after being exposed to loud noises.
- Do not put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! This includes cotton swabs, bobby pins, keys, paperclips, or anything else you might use to clean or scratch your ears.
- Exercise keeps the blood pumping throughout the body, including your ears. This keeps the internal parts of the ears healthy, so we advise that you keep moving.
- It is vital to get your hearing tested, especially if you experience a change in your hearing, or ringing or fullness in your ears for over 24 hours.
If you are looking for additional hearing protection tips, let us at Strauss Audiology assist you. We can do a proper hearing test to establish where and what your hearing issue is.
About Strauss Audiology
Strauss Audiology is a professional audiology business in the northern suburbs of Cape Town, offering expert, effective hearing advice that is tailored to clients’ unique hearing needs. We conduct hearing evaluations, hearing tests and vertigo assessments, and provide a range of solutions to improve and protect clients’ hearing. This includes providing hearing aids to Cape Town clients. With 16 years of experience, and with the qualifications and certifications to deliver leading hearing care, you can trust us to take care of your hearing needs.
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