A new year is the perfect time to implement healthy habits, especially when it comes to your hearing. Prioritizing your hearing can positively impact your mental, emotional, physical and social well-being, so why not kill a few birds with one stone?
Why Prioritizing Your Hearing Health is a Good Resolution
Your hearing impacts your cognitive health, safety and quality of life. It may be difficult to socialize and engage in meaningful conversations with your loved ones if you have untreated hearing loss. That also increases your risk of developing depression and cognitive decline, which could lead to dementia.
How to Improve Your Hearing Health
Reevaluate Your Hearing Aids and Technology
Hearing technology continues to change and improve, offering more advanced settings and features. It’s important to assess your lifestyle and hearing needs periodically to ensure your hearing aids meet those requirements.
For example, if you lead an active lifestyle, you may consider switching to in-the-canal devices to reduce the risk of losing larger hearing aids. Maybe you’re struggling with dexterity and require larger devices that are easier to handle.
Consider the following questions:
- Do your hearing aids fit comfortably?
- Do they provide the sound enhancement you need?
- Would you prefer rechargeable or disposable batteries?
- Do they offer Bluetooth connectivity and streaming?
- How big are they?
The answers will help you determine if it’s time for an adjustment or upgrade.
Adopt Healthy Listening Habits
Be mindful of noise: Any sound louder than 85 decibels (heavy traffic, hair dryer, power tools) can cause permanent hearing damage. Be aware of your acoustic surroundings and distance yourself from sound sources. For instance, move away from speakers if you’re at a concert. Take proper precautions when participating in noisy hobbies like shooting, woodworking or motorcycling.
Wear hearing protection: Earplugs and earmuffs protect your hearing on the job, at an event and while doing chores. Whether you use disposable foam earplugs or custom hearing protection, ensure they fit snuggly into your ears to optimize their effectiveness.
Limit headphone use: Earbuds and headphones bring sounds closer to your ear, so it’s important to reduce the volume. The 60/60 rule is an easy method to follow: Only listen to audio at 60% volume for up to 60 minutes at a time.
Take listening breaks: Sitting in a quiet space after exposure to loud sounds allows the sensitive cells in your inner ear to recover. It also reduces the stress on your auditory system, which can help you manage mental fatigue.
Commit to Regular Hearing Screenings
Scheduling an annual hearing test can help you:
- Determine your type and degree of hearing loss
- Identify factors, lifestyle choices and medical conditions contributing to your hearing loss
- Monitor hearing loss progression
- Address tinnitusand balance disorders
Your hearing changes over time, so getting regular hearing screenings helps your audiologist spot warning signs of potential issues earlier. That allows for early detection and intervention which can slow the progression of your condition.
Engage in Holistic Hearing Care
Eat a balanced diet: Your inner ear requires vitamins and minerals to function properly, including magnesium, antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Diet influences inflammation, cell repair and circulation, all of which impact how the hair cells in your ears work.
Exercise regularly: Physical activity improves blood flow and carries oxygen to your inner ear. Exercise also helps you maintain a healthy weight, reducing your risk for chronic conditions that may affect your hearing such as diabetes and heart disease.
Eliminate nicotine: Cigarettes, chewing tobacco and other nicotine products contain ototoxic chemicals that can damage the internal structures of your ears. Nicotine also restricts blood vessels, altering blood flow.
Manage stress: Finding healthy ways to alleviate stress supports auditory processing. Stress also exacerbates tinnitus, amplifying its severity. Meditation, deep breathing and yoga can ease physical and mental tension.
Be careful cleaning your ears: Never use cotton swabs, bobby pins or other objects to clean your ears. Doing so may push earwax deeper into your canal or puncture your eardrum. Use warm water and a clean cloth to gently cleanse the outer portion of your ear.
Staying on Track: Your Path to Better Hearing
Make your hearing health a priority in the New Year by scheduling an appointment at Hearing Associates. Our expert audiologists and friendly staff are committed to providing personalized services to ensure you get off to a good start on your journey to better hearing. Call 888-760-2032 or schedule your appointment online.