Celebrate World Hearing Day: Ear and Hearing Care for All! 

Did you know that March 3rd is World Hearing Day? Organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), this international campaign is all about hearing health and advocating for hearing loss treatment. This year’s theme is Ear and Hearing Care for All which emphasizes the importance of accessing hearing healthcare. Hearing loss is the third most common health condition that people experience in the United States. Impacting over 48 million people, hearing loss is pervasive.

You can celebrate World Hearing Day by scheduling an appointment for a hearing evaluation and practicing safety measures to protect your hearing health and wellness. Tips for healthy ears that you can start practicing this March include:

• Wear hearing protection. A common cause of hearing loss is loud noise exposure. We are exposed to all types of sounds at different volume levels throughout the day. Wearing hearing protection is a great way to mitigate the potential harm these noises can have on your ears and hearing. Hearing protection includes earplugs, headphones, earbuds, earmuffs, etc. These items are small and portable, allowing you to easily access them when moving through spaces that are noisy. Hearing protection provides the ears with a barrier, reducing the amount of loud noise you absorb and preventing noise-induced hearing loss.

• Maximize your hearing aids. If you wear hearing aids, it is important to wear your hearing aids during waking hours. There are also ways you can maximize your device including investing in the features that best support your hearing needs and lifestyle preferences. There are innovative features and hearing aids accessories that support your hearing needs in everyday environments. This includes tinnitus management features, digital noise reduction, voice recognition, wireless connectivity, and an app to conveniently manage settings. Be sure to discuss these features with your hearing healthcare provider who can help you identify the technologies that are optimal for you.

• Avoid cotton swabs. Though cotton swabs are commonly used to remove earwax, they are actually not recommended. Cotton swabs can further push earwax into the ear, making it harder to remove and exit the ears. If you experience excess earwax that doesn’t seem to exit the ears on its own, see an ear specialist who can remove it for you.

• Minimize background noise. Background noise can make it harder to hear for anyone but can be especially challenging for people with hearing loss. Background noise means additional sounds for your ears and brain to process and filter through. This creates more work for the brain and can take away from the actual speech you want to hear. Minimize background noise by reducing volume on the TV or music, avoiding noisy places like busy restaurants (especially during peak hours), driving with the windows rolled up to reduce environmental noise, putting your phone on silent or vibrate and asking others to do the same, and opting for quieter spaces when you go out.

• Monitor noise levels. Exposure to sound near and above 85dB can impact hearing health. Monitoring noise levels allows you to adjust your exposure time so that you are not compromising your hearing. You can do this by downloading an app that measures decibels – NIOSH Sound Level Meter App (iOS), NoiSee (iOS), SLPnFFT Noise Meter (iOS), Sound Meter X (iOS), Sound Meter (Android), and SoundPrint (iOS and Android). You can also use the health app if you have an iPhone and/or Apple watch.

• Reduce loud noise exposure. In addition to reducing volume settings on your electronic devices (TV, phone, speaker etc.) and monitoring noise levels, there are more ways you can reduce your exposure to loud noise. This includes taking listening breaks throughout the day, avoiding attending noisy events back to back, and taking alternate routes to avoid traffic and construction sites

• Check your hearing regularly. Another useful tip is to have your hearing assessed regularly. Even if you already wear hearing aids, your hearing needs can change over time. Getting your hearing evaluated yearly allows you to track your hearing health and address any symptoms or changes that you experience.

This March is an invitation to really prioritize your hearing health. Practicing these tips support healthy hearing and contribute to your overall wellness. Contact us today!