Here are some of our top tips to protect your hearing health year-round.
Protecting your hearing health is something to keep top of mind year-round. Protecting your hearing isn’t just about avoiding rock concerts or construction sites. It is about being mindful of the everyday sounds and situations that can gradually affect your ear health. Just like you brush your teeth to protect your smile or wear sunglasses to shield your eyes, your ears deserve a little daily care and attention. Here in this blog, we’ve gathered several of our top tips to keep your ears and hearing healthy year-round.
Use Protection Around Loud Machinery
Many of us don’t realize how loud our daily chores can actually be. We might think of “noise pollution” as something that happens in a factory or at an airport, but the average garage is full of equipment that can reach harmful decibel levels. Lawnmowers, leaf blowers, weed trimmers, and snowblowers can all produce noise loud enough to cause damage over time. Be sure to wear proper hearing equipment whenever you operate these machines, even if it’s just for a short time. Noise-reducing earmuffs, fitted in-ear plugs, or both are great options to keep decibel levels safe.
It isn’t just outdoor equipment that can be noisy, either. Inside the home, blenders, hair dryers, and vacuum cleaners can be surprisingly loud. A good rule of thumb is the “shout test”: if you have to raise your voice to be understood by someone standing an arm’s length away, the environment is potentially hazardous to your hearing. Take a look at this graphic on noise levels from common household appliances to see where items in your home fall. Make it a habit to reach for hearing protection and be mindful of the noise levels in your environment. Protection is the best defense for your hearing health!
Practice Safe Listening with Personal Devices
In an age where we can carry our entire music library or a collection of audiobooks in our pocket, the temptation to plug in and tune out can be strong. However, using earbuds or headphones improperly can cause noise-induced hearing loss.
Be mindful of your volume settings. A helpful guideline is the 60/60 rule: try to listen at no more than 60% of the device’s maximum volume for no more than 60 minutes at a time. If you often find yourself turning up the volume to drown out background noise, consider investing in noise-canceling headphones. These devices actively block out external sounds, allowing you to listen clearly at a much lower, safer volume.
Your device may also have hearing protection or hearing analytics. Many modern smartphones have headphone safety features, which may notify you if you exceed safe decibel levels when you listen to music or audiobooks. You can typically find this setting in the “Settings” application on your phone. If you’re consistently noticing you need to turn the volume up on your devices, consider talking to an audiologist or investing in a CapTel captioned telephone to read captions of your phone calls.
Rethink How You Clean Your Ears
For many, using a cotton swab to clean their ears is a part of their daily hygiene routine. However, audiologists and ear specialists generally advise against this. Your ear canals are designed to be self-cleaning and can be incredibly delicate and sensitive.
When you insert a cotton swab or other object into your ear, you risk pushing earwax deeper into the canal. This can lead to impaction, where the wax hardens against the eardrum, causing muffled hearing, discomfort, or even tinnitus. In worst-case scenarios, you could accidentally puncture your delicate eardrum. Instead, simply wash your outer ear with a warm washcloth. If you feel you have a blockage, skip the home remedies and see a healthcare professional for safe removal.
Give Your Ears a Break
Our ears work hard from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. Unlike our eyes, which we can close to rest, our ears are always “on.” Constant exposure to noise, even at safe levels, can lead to listening fatigue.
If you have spent a few hours in a noisy environment, like a busy restaurant, a family party, or a sporting event, try to follow it up with some quiet time. Retreat to a quiet room to read a book or take a walk in a peaceful park. Giving your auditory system a chance to rest and recover can reduce stress and help you stay sharp for your next conversation.
Don’t Wait to Visit an Audiologist
Perhaps the most important tip is to be proactive. Make hearing screenings a part of your regular wellness routine, just like checking your blood pressure or vision. Establishing a baseline with an audiologist when your hearing is good makes it much easier to track changes over time. If you do notice a shift in your hearing, schedule an appointment promptly. Modern hearing solutions are incredibly advanced, and addressing hearing loss early can significantly improve your quality of life, cognitive health, and more.
Taking care of your hearing doesn’t require a complete lifestyle overhaul. It is simply about being aware of your environment and making smart choices to protect the delicate workings of your ears. By following these tips, you can ensure that you stay connected to the sounds and people that matter most. For more helpful tips on health, wellness, and living with hearing loss, visit the CapTel blog.
