Besides noise, the risk of developing “swimmer’s ear,” when water enters the ear canal, increases. So if you want to enjoy summer and preserve your hearing stick to some ear-friendly tips.
Hearing loss by the numbers
Men are generally more prone to hearing loss because they tend to work in environments that produce high levels of noise – construction for example.
Sadly, our hearing is not something we can get back. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. Hearing aids may have to be used, but the NIDCD reports that 30 percent of seniors 70 years and older don’t use them at all. Whether this is due to cost or issues with hearing devices, hearing loss is definitely an area of concern.
So if we can’t regain our hearing we should work diligently to preserve it.
Tips to prevent hearing loss
- Wear earplugs: If you are venturing out to a concert or watching some fireworks, wearing earplugs can help minimize the noise. Another point to consider is not to be close to the source of the noise.
- Keep volumes you can control to a minimum: Whether you’re watching TV or listening to music through headphones, you have control of the volume. Some devices will monitor how loud you are listening to music and will automatically lower the volume after a given amount of time. Be mindful of volume at all times.
- Protect your ears at work: If you work in a noisy environment wearing protective headphones can help your hearing in the long run.
- Rest your ears: If you spent your evening at a concert or enduring loud sounds, give your ears a rest. It takes about 16 hours to recover from loud noise, according to Action on Hearing Loss.
These are just some effective means to protect your hearing in loud situations. Protecting yourself from ear infections is also highly recommended.
How to avoid swimmer’s ear
Swimmer’s ear or acute external otitis is an outer ear canal infection due to bacterial growth thriving on a moist environment .It is caused by the water that stays in your ear after swimming. We briefly mentioned swimmer’s ear as it can be quite common in the warmer months. To guard against swimmer’s ear always keep your ears dry, especially the moment you come out of a pool or body of water.
Avoid prolonged exposure to water
Since water can carry bacteria, avoid having your head under water for prolonged periods of time.
Never stick objects inside your ear
The best way to protect your ears and hearing overall is to never stick objects inside your ear. This includes cotton swabs, fingers, you name it. The only thing that belongs in your ear is sound. So if you’re having trouble with your ears speak with a doctor who can properly examine them.