7 Mistakes People Make With Their Hearing

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Many of us take our hearing for granted. Certain mistakes can result in hearing problems developing and going untreated. These hearing problems can negatively affect our lives in many ways. Below are just some of the mistakes you should avoid in order to protect your hearing. 

Not wearing ear protection in loud environments
Noise exposure is one of the biggest causes of premature hearing loss. It can also result in the development of hearing problems like tinnitus. You can stop these hearing problems from developing by wearing ear protection in loud environments. Such environments include concerts, construction sites, motorsports events and nightclubs. Do not get into the mindset of thinking that you are too cool for earplugs – you may regret it in a few years time.

Listening to music too loudly on headphones
You should be careful as to how loud you play music – especially on headphones which are blasting sound straight into your ears. If you take off your headphones and your ears are ringing, it's a clear sign that your music is too loud. Many devices now have in-built warning features to tell you when the volume is likely to cause damage. Do not ignore these warnings.

Using cotton swabs to clean your ears
Cotton swabs have long been used to clean out earwax, but they're actually very unhealthy for our ears. In fact, you're likely to end up pushing ear wax further into your ears. This can lead to hard-to-remove blockages of impacted earwax that can affect your hearing. Our ears are self-cleaning, so you do not need to shove anything in them. If you do experience a build-up of wax, use ear drops instead of cotton swabs.

Ignoring ear infections
Some ear infections can clear up by themselves, but it's generally not a good idea to wait and see. Ear infections that are left untreated can cause damage to various parts of your ear – in some cases causing permanent damage to hearing. Infections can also spread to other parts of the body if you're not careful. As a result, you should always see a doctor if you think you may have an infection.

Putting off getting a hearing aid
Once you start experiencing hearing loss, it's worth looking into getting a hearing aid. Some people think they can put up with hearing loss, but it's generally not a good idea. Hearing loss can affect our ability to communicate, causing social anxiety and damage to relationships around us. Hearing problems like tinnitus can meanwhile lead to insomnia and difficulty concentrating. Both hearing loss and tinnitus can be made easier to live with by looking into hearing aids.

Buying a hearing aid without a prescription
It's possible to buy OTC hearing aids without a prescription, however it's not recommended. These hearing aids are not likely to be adjusted accurately to your hearing needs. A prescribed hearing aid will improve your hearing much more dramatically. An audiologist will be able to help you find the right prescription.

Not looking after your hearing aid
Once you've got a hearing aid, it's important that you look after it. This will keep your hearing aid working properly. Make sure to clean your hearing aid regularly and avoid getting the device wet. You can find more tips here on how to look after your hearing aid.