When listening to music, avoid earbuds that plug directly into your ear canal.
There are a surprising amount of factors that can contribute to hearing loss, from the weather to the device you use to listen to music. You want to make sure to keep your hearing as healthy as you can for as long as you can, so here are three tips that will help protect your ears.
Invest in Ear Plugs
Many people underestimate the amount of noise in their regular environment, let alone the noise level at a concert, club, outdoor event, or just mowing the lawn. But noise-induced hearing loss is unfortunately very common. It is a good idea to ask your audiologist about what kind of earplugs to buy and when you should use them. There are many shapes and varieties to fit your comfort level, and it’s better to spend a little money to make sure that your hearing stays healthy.
Lower the Volume
Another way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss is to make sure that you aren’t exposing your ears to more than they can handle. If you like to listen to music on the go, it’s better to have a set of over-the-ear headphones than earbuds that plug directly into your ear canal. Even so, make sure that you aren’t playing the music so loud that you block out surrounding sounds. It is tempting to want to drown out the world around you, but wearing earbuds that blast the music now may mean that you’ll have to invest in hearing aids sooner than you would like to. And if you are in a loud area, such as a concert mentioned above, it’s a good idea to step out ever few minutes to give your ears a break from the noise.
Clean and Dry
The most overlooked way to protect your hearing is to simply make sure that there aren’t blockages or buildups that could eventually hurt your ears. The cotton swab is a heavily debated topic, but since it’s never a good idea to stick something that far into your ear canal, it’s better to leave them alone. Ear wax is healthy in normal amounts, but if you feel like you have an uncomfortable amount of buildup, then it’s better to see a doctor than to risk impacting the wax by trying to dig it out yourself. But one way you can make sure your ears are healthy is by avoiding moisture. When you swim or take a shower, be careful to dry out your ears. Wet ears attract bacteria which can lead to infections, ultimately putting your hearing organs at risk.
Contact Bay Area Audiology Today for Your Hearing Evaluation!
If you are concerned about hearing loss or seeking hearing evaluations, tinnitus evaluations, or hearing aid assistance, our doctors are ready to help. We are passionate about helping all of our patients improve their quality of life through better hearing. We also believe that patient education is critical, so you won’t be lead through endless sales pitches at our office. If you are interested in hearing how we can help you hear even better, contact us at (410) 838-4327 or online. For more hearing tips and articles, follow Bay Area Audiology on Facebook,Twitter,Google+, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.