How Is Your Hearing?

TIPS FOR TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOUR EARS

I was having trouble hearing speakers on the other side of the room at meetings.

I was uncertain what was making the audience laugh at a line in the play. I was frequently asking my husband to repeat himself.

A routine visit to my otolaryngologist (ENT) led to a hearing test, which revealed something I had been dreading: A slight hearing loss – slight, but serious enough to be taking some of the enjoyment out of my life.

After a lengthy period of emotional resistance, I finally sought out a hearing aid specialist who, after additional testing, prescribed a pair of hearing aids, designed especially for my particular needs, with specific instructions for their use. At present, I’m able to hear sounds that I previously didn’t know existed, and am wondering why I waited so long to seek out the help I needed!

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an estimated 15% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Following are some steps you can take right away to protect your hearing.

1. Wear earplugs around loud noises, such as those created by power tools, concerts, lawn mowers and aircraft. Wear earplugs if you work in environments that expose you to loud noises.

2. Keep the volume turned down when watching television or listening to music in your home or vehicle. If possible, use over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds, which place more distance between you and the noise source.

3. Take frequent breaks when attending loud events such as concerts. Step outside to separate yourself temporarily from the noise. Spend time afterward in a quiet environment to allow your ears to rest and recover.

4. Stop using cotton swabs to remove earwax. The NIH reports that cotton swabs can push earwax deeper into the ear canal, which can damage the eardrum and increase the risk of hearing problems. Ask your health care practitioner for recommendations on how to remove earwax without causing hearing loss.

5. Keep your ears dry. Swimming and bathing can result in water entering your ear canal, and can be risky for your hearing if the water contains harmful bacteria. Tilt your head to the side after swimming or bathing to drain water out of your ears, or use a towel to soak up excess water.

6. Stay physically active. Exercising regularly promotes good blood flow and circulation, which helps blood and oxygen to reach your ears, keeping them in optimal health.

7. Manage and reduce stress. Stress increases your body’s production of cortisol and adrenalin, which can temporarily affect your hearing. Long-term stress can lead to elevated levels of these hormones, increasing the risk of permanent hearing loss. Find ways to reduce stress: Listen to soothing music, exercise daily, or find other relaxing activities to relieve stress.

8. Stop smoking and don’t start. NIH reports that smoking irritates and blocks the eustachian tubes which connect the middle ears to the back of the throat, and are responsible for draining fluid and maintaining air pressure to the ears. Smoking also interferes with nerves in the ear to make you more sensitive to loud noises and increase your risk of hearing loss. If you’re a smoker, take steps to quit as soon as possible to prevent hearing loss, and if you don’t smoke, don’t start!

9. Visit your family doctor or otolaryngologist regularly for checkups. Have regular screenings if you have started to experience some degree of hearing loss.

SIGNS OF HEARING LOSS

Getting prompt attention for changes in your hearing is important to preserving the hearing you have left. But too often people don’t seek help until they’re experiencing more severe hearing loss. Signs of hearing loss include:

• Having difficulty keeping up with conversations, especially when there is a lot of background noise.

• Frequently asking others to repeat what they have said.

• Answering others inappropriately because you didn’t understand what they said.

• Feeling that people are mumbling or have marbles in their mouths when they talk.

• Withdrawing from conversations and social situations because it’s too difficult to hear.

• Hearing sounds in your ears or head that others don’t hear, like ringing, clicking, pulsing or humming. (This is known as tinnitus.)

• Turning the television or radio volume louder than others in the room prefer.

You may not notice the beginnings of hearing loss. Others might notice it before you do. If someone in your life suggests that you may be having trouble hearing, take them seriously.

SEEK MEDICAL HELP FOR EAR CONCERNS

Some reasons to get medical attention for your ears include:

• Earwax buildup
• Itching or pain in your ears
• Injuries to your head or ears
• Unusual bumps or scaly areas on the outside of your ears
• Drainage from your ears
• Pain in your teeth, jaws or neck

Talk with a health care provider, such as an audiologist or otolaryngologist, about ear troubles or hearing loss. They can examine you, advise you, and help you get the treatment you need.

Louise Whiteside, a longtime resident of D.C. and Maryland, now resides in the Colorado Rockies. She loves memoir writing, bargain hunting, cooking, country music, theater, and travel.