8 Hearing Loss Prevention Tips for Seniors
Hearing loss is often associated with old age. However, although it’s increasingly more common to see younger adults experiencing hearing loss, it’s important as you get older to maintain good ear health.
Hearing loss is associated with conditions like dementia, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart disease. The presence of these illnesses is a signal that you should get your hearing tested.
As Seniors Month comes to a close, the following tips could help you preserve good hearing health, your lifestyle and independence.
- Make sure you have regular hearing tests. Many of us get an annual physical or eye exam, so why not an annual hearing test?
- Be mindful of harmful noise levels. Plan ahead and wear hearing protection, like earplugs, if you know you will be exposed to loud noise.
- Beware of the volume on your headphones or speakers. Nowadays some devices warn you if the volume is being increased to unsafe levels.
- If you have been exposed to loud noise and experience any ringing, buzzing, hissing in your ears, or you have any sudden hearing loss, see a doctor immediately.
- When cleaning your ears or trying to get to that itch, never put cotton swabs or any other object in your ear canal. Putting foreign objects in your ears can further push back and impact wax or dirt build-up in your ears. It can also result in damage to your ear canal. If you feel your ears could use a good cleaning visit a hearing health professional or a doctor.
- Blow your nose gently.
- Speak to your doctor about your medications, as some can affect your hearing. For instance, large doses of aspirin can have a temporary effect on your hearing.
- If you wear hearing aids, you should wear them during all of your waking hours. Visit your Audiologist or Hearing Instrument Practitioner if you feel your hearing aids aren’t performing as they should. Your assistive listening devices may require adjustments and/or a good cleaning.
Hearing Solutions provides free, no-obligation hearing tests. CLICK HERE if you would like to schedule a hearing test or require service for your hearing aids.
