The strange part of hearing loss is that we don’t have a tendency to start appreciating our favorite sounds until after we’ve lost the ability to clearly hear them. We don’t stop to give thought to, for example, how much we appreciate a good conversation with a friend until we have to constantly ask them to repeat themselves.
Whether it’s your favorite Mozart record or the songs of a Bluejay first thing in the morning, your quality of life is directly linked to your ability to hear—regardless of whether you recognize it or not. And if you wait until after you’ve lost your hearing to come to this understanding, you’re going to dedicate a tremendous amount of time and effort working to get it back.
So how can you protect your ability to hear?
Here are 6 ways you could lose your hearing and what you can do about it.
1. Genetics and aging
Age-related hearing loss, also called presbycusis, is the loss of hearing that gradually develops as we grow old. Together with presbycusis, there is also some evidence suggesting that genetics plays a role, and that some of us are more susceptible to hearing loss than others.
While there’s not much you can do to avoid the process of getting older or tweak your genetics, you can avoid noise-induced hearing loss from the other sources illustrated below. And keep in mind that age-related hearing loss is considerably more challenging to treat if aggravated by preventable damage.
2. Traveling
Repeated direct exposure to sound levels above 85 decibels can result in permanent hearing loss, which is bad news if you happen to drive a convertible. New research indicates that driving a convertible with the top down at high speeds generates an average sound volume of 90 decibels. Motorcyclists experience even louder sounds and those who take the subway are at risk as well.
So does everyone either have to give up travel or live with permanent earplugs? Not quite, but you should certainly find ways to limit your cumulative noise exposure during travel. If you drive a convertible, roll up your car windows and drive a little slower; if you own a motorcycle, put on a helmet and think about earplugs; and if you take the subway, consider buying noise-canceling headphones.
3. Going to work
As indicated by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 22 million workers in the US are subjected to potentially damaging noise volumes on the job. The highest risk jobs are in manufacturing, farming, construction, the military, and the music industry.
The last thing you want is to spend your total working life accumulating hearing loss that will keep you from making the most of your retirement. Speak to your supervisor about its hearing protection plan, and if they don’t have one, get in touch with your local hearing specialist for custom made solutions.
4. Taking drugs and smoking
Smoking interferes with blood flow, on top of other things, which may increase your risk of developing hearing loss—if you really needed another reason to quit. Antibiotics, potent pain medications, and a significant number of other drugs are “ototoxic,” or damaging to the cells of hearing. In fact, there are more than 200 known ototoxic medications.
The bottom line: avoid taking ototoxic drugs or medications unless absolutely necessary. Speak to your doctor if you have any questions.
5. Listening to music
85 is turning out to be quite an inconvenient number. Many of our favorite hobbies yield decibel levels just over this limit, and any sound over 85 decibels can cause hearing loss. If the threshold were just slightly higher, say 100 decibels, we wouldn’t have to worry about it so much.
But 85 it is. And portable mp3 players at full volume get to more than 100 decibels while rock concerts reach more than 110. The solution is straight forward: turn down your iPod, wear earplugs at live shows, and reduce your time of exposure to the music.
6. Getting sick or injured
Some ailments, such as diabetes, along with any traumatic head injuries, places you at a higher risk of developing hearing loss. If you have diabetes, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and frequent tracking of blood sugar levels is crucial. And if you ride a motorcycle, wearing a helmet will help protect against traumatic head injuries.
Talk to Your Hearing Specialist
While there are numerous ways to lose your hearing, a few straight forward lifestyle alterations can help you sustain your hearing for life. Remember: the mild inconvenience of wearing custom earplugs, driving with the windows up, or turning down your iPod are insignificant in comparison to the substantial inconvenience of hearing loss later in life.
Ready to take your hearing health seriously? Give us a call today.