Important Strategies to Prevent Hearing Loss

By Ashley King

Hearing loss can be a result of many different factors.If you suffer from ear infections on a constant basis, this could lead to hearing loss over time. Recurrent infections could be due to excessive earwax, or a lack of wax to protect the eardrum and ear canal. Not removing water from the inner ear can also cause infection. These infections could also encourage the growth of tumors or cysts inside the middle or outer ear, which can cause hearing loss over a period of time. Loud noises are another common culprit.

In order to determine whether or not you need a hearing device, your doctor will use a hearing assessment to find out why you are having problems hearing. You may be experiencing temporary hearing loss due to some problems in the outer or middle ear, such as a recurring infection. In some cases, patients also experience sensorineural hearing loss, which is permanent and due to an inherited condition or disease.

There are many steps you can take to prevent hearing loss. If you have a job that exposes you to loud noises all day, such as working in a factory or with a transit system, it may be a good idea to wear earplugs. Being in the presence of loud noise every once in a while may not have an effect on your senses, but constant exposure could cause permanent damage. And, while the help of hearing aids has proven to be beneficial for many people, once your hearing is lost, it is virtually impossible to restore it.

Factors like extreme wax buildup are a common contributor to hearing loss. This happens fairly often with people of all ages, and can be avoided by cleaning the ears often with a damp cloth or cotton swab. Be sure not to stick the swab too far in the ear, as this can cause damage as well. Also, using a few drops of alcohol will help to clear out excess water and wax from the ear, especially if you swim often.

Certain medicines and foods may also affect your hearing temporarily. If you have an aspirin allergy, you may find that you experience ringing in the ears when you take certain medications. Foods like red peppers, broccoli, and different types of nuts may have the same effect, since these foods contain high amounts of salicylates, which is the main ingredient found in aspirin. Keep in mind that stress can also affect your hearing health, so make sure that you take time to exercise a few times a week, or to take a walk after dinner to unwind after a long day. Growths on the auditory nerve can cause hearing loss as well, so if you start to feel pain or swelling around the ear, be sure to visit your audiologist right away. - 29930

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