There are some types of hearing loss that can’t be prevented, such as when the problem stems from genetic reasons, injury, or as a side effect of a medical condition. In other cases, you can take steps to protect your hearing, now and in the future.
As your partner in ear and hearing health, Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates delivers the audiology and medical services you need. We’ve prepared today’s blog to help you understand the things you can do to prevent damage from avoidable causes of hearing loss.
Your ears convert sound wave energy into mechanical motion, and then nerve signals that are transmitted to and interpreted by the brain. Because the body uses two types of conversion, there are also two types of hearing loss, with a third type being a combination.
Conductive hearing loss affects the mechanical systems of the ear, from when sound waves press on your eardrum to the point where fluid in the inner ear causes tiny hairs called cilia to move and create nerve signals.
Sensorineural hearing loss starts with the cilia and auditory nerve. Anything that causes a breakdown in the nerve signals reaching the brain is a sensorineural problem.
Generally, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. There’s no way to gain back lost hearing except for using assistive devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants.
There’s a better chance to recover from some causes of conductive hearing loss. Some forms of conductive loss are temporary, such as a buildup of earwax or fluid in your middle ear, which is normally dry.
Foreign objects can become lodged in the ears, a situation that is familiar to plenty of parents, and the side effects of allergies, colds, and infections can sometimes cause conductive loss.
It’s possible to have both sensorineural and conductive issues at the same time, called mixed hearing loss.
You can prevent some types of conductive loss by protecting yourself from viruses or avoiding allergens. Regular ear care might prevent earwax buildups. Note that cleaning your ears with cotton swabs can push wax deeper, so we don’t recommend it as a cleaning method.
Sensorineural hearing loss prevention requires planning and diligence. Noise exposure is a significant cause of this type of hearing loss, and damage can be cumulative over years before your hearing degrades.
Just as repeated sunburns can raise your risk of skin cancer, repeated exposure to loud-volume events raises the risk of hearing loss. It doesn’t matter if the sounds are industrial noise, music, or another source; the intensity and duration of the loud sounds is the damaging factor.
If you’re serious about protecting your hearing, consider these key points:
This establishes a baseline while identifying your current level of hearing loss, if you have any already. Monitoring your hearing year after year might help identify new issues or patterns.
Loud music can feel exciting, but it’s easy to overdose. Remember that harmful levels of sound have both a volume and time relationship. You can stand moderate volumes for a longer duration than louder sounds.
Consider adding a sound level metering app to your smartphone, like this one available through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Remember that personal listening devices like earbuds and headphones can produce volumes that damage your hearing, too.
Personal protective equipment should be part of your daily routine if you work in a loud environment, like a factory. But that’s not the only place where you’re exposed to loud sounds.
Ear protection that is designed to protect your ears without blocking frequencies makes it possible to enjoy live music, while heavy duty protectors make life at the firing range easier on your ears.
Like other systems in your body, your ears can get tired. Learn to recognize the signs and take breaks from sources of loud noise.
When you need ear care, contact us at Lawrence Otolaryngology Associates for specialist attention. Call or click to request an appointment with our nearest office in Lawrence or Ottawa today.
