Addressing Hearing Loss: Don’t ‘Fall’ Behind on Your Hearing Health
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Hearing loss affects all age groups worldwide. It has several causes, but the common ones are aging, persistent exposure to loud sounds and medication reactions. Some people have congenital hearing loss, meaning the condition was present from birth. No matter the cause of your hearing loss, it is important to gather information that teaches you what to do and how to manage your auditory health. Here are some steps to address hearing loss and avoid falling behind on your hearing health.
Consult an Audiologist to Check Your Hearing
An audiologist should be your first call to address any hearing health issue. These professionals have specialized training to assess, detect and diagnose changes in your hearing health. Upon detecting compromised hearing, your audiologist will recommend hearing aids to improve your quality of life. Your visit to the audiologist will include a series of tests to check your ear health and ability to perceive sounds. The audiometry test determines the extent and type of hearing loss, if any. The consultation with your audiologist will commence discussions of your medical history and your family’s.
Your audiologist will ask about past or current medicines that may have triggered adverse reactions. These are preliminary discussions to determine or assess your hearing loss. If your audiologist finds nothing wrong with your ears, you will likely receive further information on hearing protection measures. Many overlook the importance of these protective measures and, by doing so, increase their risks of hearing loss. If your audiologist detects early signs of hearing loss, the next thing would be to give personalized recommendations to improve auditory function, albeit with the help of assistive devices.
Invest In Good Hearing Aids and Assistive Devices
Hearing aids are a valuable solution to auditory loss, and the fact that 28.8-million Americans wear them is proof of their efficiency. They are designed to amplify sounds and to help you engage meaningfully in conversations. First-generation hearing aids were bulky and not exactly discreet, but things have changed. Modern hearing aids are more discreet and come in various styles that suit different lifestyles. There are more options; fortunately, they aren’t hard to come by.
The most important thing is for your audiologist to recommend the right hearing aid that works best for your lifestyle and needs. These devices will last long, depending on your cleaning and maintenance habits. For example, failing to clean your hearing aids can cause a wax buildup that may interfere with the device’s proper function. Secondly, hearing aids must be removed before participating in activities like swimming and bathing. These hearing devices will be damaged if you overlook these maintenance tips.
Avoid Noisy Environments
Prolonged exposure to loud sounds or noise can compromise short to long-term hearing. The human ears thrive on sounds at or below 70 decibels; anything above that harms your auditory health. Meanwhile, prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can cause permanent damage to your hearing. Admittedly, some people cannot avoid noisy environments because of the nature of their job.
For example, construction workers, miners and studio sound producers are constantly exposed to loud sounds, putting them at risk of permanent hearing damage. Taking your hearing protection measures seriously would be best. That includes using earmuffs to block the noise. Sometimes, you might have to take short breaks from a noisy work environment to allow your ears to rest. Many people perceive noisy environments as external settings, but there is more you didn’t consider. The earpieces you use regularly bring noise directly into your ear canal.
Regular Checkups to Monitor Any Changes
Your hearing health can decline after being diagnosed with hearing loss. Remember that hearing loss is categorized under varying degrees, and they are mild, moderate, severe and profound. If your initial diagnosis was categorized as mild, that could change to moderate or severe. What could be responsible for the change? Research has shown that it could be age-related causes, non-adherence to hearing protection measures or a natural progression of the condition.
Regular checkups will address any changes or adjustments that need to be made. If there is, you are better off detecting it early with the right interventions. Hearing loss management is a personalized process, so your audiologist will keep that in mind as your situation is catered for.
Learn More
Learn more about Adirondack Audiology to address your hearing loss situation. Call us today at (888) 347-5899. We can’t wait to hear from you!
