Whether you are looking for ways to protect yourself as you age or simply want to ensure that you remain on top of your game – it’s important that you find ways to take care of or improve your hearing. For example, while many people are quick to visit the opticians if they are dealing with issues regarding their sight, they are much slower to address issues with their hearing.
Loss of hearing can be incredibly detrimental to both your physical and mental health – not only could it affect the way in which you communicate with others, studies show that there is also a link between hearing loss and cognitive decline. As a result, you must be able to identify any signs and symptoms of hearing loss ahead of time.
This could include:
- Struggling to follow conversations, especially if they are taking place in noisy surroundings.
- Lack of focus/concentration.
- Sounds appear muffled or distant.
- Poor balance.
- Having to turn up the TV constantly.
- Struggling to hold conversations over the phone.
- Hearing better through one ear than the other.
- Speaking too loudly.
If you have noticed any of the following symptoms, then it’s time to start taking care of your hearing. Here are some simple ways in which you can get started.
- Attend regular checkups. If you do not have any of the above symptoms of hearing loss, you should still attend a check-up at least once a year. However, if you have noticed any sudden changes to your health, then you shouldn’t wait for your next appointment to roll around before getting it checked.
- Avoid loud sounds. While you probably can’t avoid loud sounds in their entirety, prolonged exposure to loud noises can seriously damage your ears. Therefore, it is important that you take the necessary steps to protect your hearing as much as possible. For example, if you work in a noisy environment – you should consider wearing headphones or earplugs. They should be provided to you by your employer.
- Keep the volume down. Whether you listen to music on your morning commute, or play a podcast when jogging, you must keep the volume to an appropriate level. Not only can this help keep you safe – as you will be more aware of what is happening around you – it can also protect your ears from damage.
- Keep your ears dry. Another way in which you can take care of your hearing is by ensuring that you keep your ears clean and dry, as a build-up of moisture can lead to ear infections. Thankfully, there are various ways in which you can avoid this issue. For example, you can wear earplugs whenever you go swimming.
- Keep the stress to a minimum. Increased levels of stress can also have a negative effect on your hearing. Therefore, you should use a variety of ways to minimize stress in your daily life and calm your mind. Doing so will not only benefit your hearing, it will have a positive impact on your mental health too.
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