Self-care is more than just bubble baths, exercise and work-life balance. While these habits are important, your hearing health also deserves attention. Clear and healthy hearing enriches everyday experiences, from enjoying music to connecting with loved ones over dinner at The Tarratine. Taking simple steps to protect your ears can prevent long-term issues and improve overall well-being.
This Valentine’s Day, show your ears some love with these four essential hearing care tips.
1. Turn Down Loud Noises
Noise exposure is one of the leading causes of hearing damage, and it’s also one of the most preventable. Two of the best ways to protect your ears against noise exposure are earplugs and decibel limits:
- Earplugs. Earplugs help reduce the impact of loud sounds. Silicone or custom-fit earplugs offer comfort and superior protection. If you have them, over-the-ear hearing protection options like earmuffs are also effective and recommended for people who work in construction.
- Setting decibel limits. It’s easy to turn up the volume of your music incrementally. You may not even realize you’ve started blasting it at unsafe levels. Setting decibel limits on your smartphone is an effective way to prevent this habit. Go to your phone’s noise settings and set a decibel limit of 80 or lower to protect your ears.
2. Clean Your Ears Safely
It might be tempting to clean your ears with cotton swabs, but this habit can do more harm than good. Cotton swabs can push wax deeper into your ear canal, leading to blockages and potential damage. In most cases, earwax will move out of the ear on its own. Instead of attempting to remove it, clean your outer ears with a damp washcloth, being careful not to drip excess water into your ears.
If you worry that excess earwax is muffling your hearing, contact Bangor Audiology today to schedule an appointment for a professional evaluation.
3. Schedule a Hearing Check-Up
Routine hearing exams help detect issues early, preventing potential complications down the road. If you’ve noticed changes in your hearing or it’s been a while since your last test, book an appointment with a hearing specialist.
4. Start Hearing Loss Treatment
If you have hearing loss, don’t wait to seek treatment until it negatively impacts your life. Take the ultimate self-care step by scheduling an appointment with Bangor Audiology to learn about your treatment options.