Tips For Avoiding Hearing Loss Or Making It Worse!

Lots of the steps you can take to protect your hearing are quite simple. You just need to be aware of them in the first place. That’s where the help of a professional Audiologist, like Dr. Joni Ruiz of Big Thicket Hearing Aids & Audiology, comes in handy. She is on hand to provide hearing evaluations, hearing aids, and advice on protecting your delicate hearing apparatus.

Preventing hearing loss

Prevention is always better than a cure when it comes to your health. You only get one set of ears, so follow some of these tips to make sure they continue to serve you for as long as possible:  

• Turn down the volume – if you use headphones, make sure you’re not blasting your eardrums to the point of no return. Aim for about 60% of the highest possible volume. You’ll still be immersed but without risking your hearing.
• Wear ear defenders – sometimes you have no control over noise levels. You might be at a music event or out hunting. In these situations, ear defenders are your friend. You can still enjoy the activities you love and keep your ears safe.
• Be willing to speak up – if you think the noise levels at the gym, in a restaurant, or at a social gathering are too loud, then it’s okay to say so. You can be polite about it, but if you choose to remain silent, it’s your hearing that may suffer.

What if you already have a hearing loss?

Hearing loss happens by degrees. If you already have an issue, it can still get worse if you don’t look out for your ears. In fact, you need to be extra vigilant if you have a hearing loss, because you may not be so aware of damaging noise levels. Although you can’t hear them as well, loud noises can continue to damage your ears. This means that all the above tips still apply, along with these added extras:

• Wear your hearing aid – once you have excellent hearing equipment, get used to using it every day. This keeps you connected with the world around you. It also stimulates the hearing nerves in your brain, keeping them busy and active.
• Talk to your friends and loved ones – getting support from those closest to you can help to keep you engaged. Let them know how they can help you by, for example, standing on a particular side or taking turns to speak at the dinner table.

Get the support you need

At Big Thicket Hearing Aids & Audiology, Dr. Joni is standing by to give you personalized advice to help protect your hearing. Getting a hearing test in Lumberton, Texas is a good place to start to find out what your ears need to stay functional. Call us at (409) 751-2590 or visit our website to schedule your appointment.