It’s important to try to maintain your hearing health, especially as you get older. There are aspects of your body that will start to deteriorate more than other parts. Your hearing is often one of those parts of your health that will begin to deteriorate more so and gradually over the years.
Maintaining your hearing health is a good way to help prevent your hearing from getting worse. With that being said, here are some helpful tips to maintain your hearing health.
Protect your ears from noise
Firstly, make sure you’re protecting your ears from noise. Loud noises will damage your inner ear hair cells as a result. It’s worthwhile to wear earplugs at concerts, when in heavy traffic, or near machinery if you work on a worksite regularly.
By protecting your ears and being proactive with your ear protection, you’ll hopefully be able to prevent any of the long-lasting damage that can come from being exposed to loud noises, even if only briefly.
Get regular hearing checks
Scheduling hearing tests annually is a good way to ensure your hearing is kept in pristine condition for as long as possible. By going annually, you’ll be able to spot any underlying problems that can be addressed before they worsen.
Attendance at an audiology clinic is a great way to explore the options available if you ever have problems with hearing loss or worries.
Follow the 60/60 rule to maintain your hearing health
The 60/60 rule is helpful when it comes to ensuring preventive care for your hearing. When using headphones, listen to that music or sound at no more than 60% volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time.
Safe ear hygiene
It’s important to practice safe ear hygiene, like not inserting cotton swabs or other objects into your ears. This will only push earwax deeper into the ear canal and potentially damage the eardrum as a result.
It’s better to get a professional earwax removal instead. You should also make sure your ears are always kept dry to prevent ear infections.
Manage chronic conditions
Chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure can be things that can impact your hearing. That’s why it’s good to keep them under control to protect the blood circulation to the ears.
Checking your blood pressure regularly is important, and being careful with your diet is helpful for preventing diabetes from occurring.
Eat well to maintain your hearing health
For the benefit of your hearing health, it’s good to eat well. Increasing the intake of potassium, whether that’s eating bananas or spinach, can help to support inner ear function. Magnesium is something to eat more of, too, so consider nuts and dark green leafy vegetables.
Stay socially active
Engaging in conversation helps to keep auditory processing skills sharp, and it’s important to use apps or devices for assistance if needed too.
Recap: Maintain Your Hearing Health
Taking steps to maintain your hearing health now can help prevent avoidable hearing loss later. With the right habits and regular monitoring, you can support healthy hearing well into the future.
