Due to the aging population, increased exposure to dangerously high volumes, and increased use of personal technology, the number of people with hearing issues has grown significantly in recent years — and that’s a trend that experts expect to continue. As it stands, some 1.5 billion people have some degree of hearing loss, and that number is expected by the World Health Organization to jump to 2.5 billion by 2050.
Some hearing loss cases, such as those caused by aging or certain medical conditions, are unavoidable, but a significant portion — or the extent of the loss, at least — can be prevented with proper care. In this post, we’ll run through some of the most effective ways for keeping your hearing health in check.
Protect Your Ears From Loud Noises
Hearing damage can occur within minutes at high volumes (such as 100 decibels, the equivalent of a rock concert or chainsaw). Even at lower volumes, such as 85 decibels (loud restaurants, heavy traffic), hearing loss can occur over a long enough period.
The best way to prevent hearing damage caused by loud noises is to keep your ears protected. For example, by wearing hearing protection to concerts or work (if you work in a loud environment), and by keeping the volume low when listening to music through your headphones. That step alone can go a long way towards keeping your hearing in a healthy condition.
Regular Hearing Checks
Getting your hearing regularly checked by a professional is an excellent way to prevent and manage hearing-related issues. It’s recommended to get a hearing check early in adulthood, around 18 – 21, in order to establish your “baseline” hearing, and then every few years after that. Once you reach fifty, it’s recommended to have checks once or twice a year.
Routine hearing checks are important for everyone, but especially so if you have existing hearing issues or wear a hearing aid. Follow-up care in hearing health allows audiologists to make note of any changes in your hearing, get updated advice, and make adjustments to your hearing aid settings if necessary. As with most health-related factors, it’s much easier to treat a hearing issue early rather than waiting for it to become more pronounced.
Keep Your Stress Levels In Check
There’s a growing body of research linking high stress levels with poor hearing health, with studies showing that chronic stress can cause permanent damage to the ears. Taking steps to control your stress levels can help to avoid these side effects, as well as just more broadly boost your quality of life.
One of the best ways to keep stress at bay is through exercise, which also helps to enhance hearing health, both by increasing blood and oxygen flow and by reducing the risk of hypertension and diabetes, both of which can lead to hearing complications. In addition, you can also keep your stress levels down by engaging in yoga, meditation, breathwork, and spending time in nature — one study found that just twenty minutes in a green environment can relieve stress.
