The fall season is a standout time in the yearly calendar. Picture yourself in a cozy setting, enveloped by the warmth and joy of the season – the sound of children’s laughs on Halloween, the rustle of leaves under your feet on a crisp fall day, the relaxing crackle of a fire, and the love and laughter of family sitting around the table on Thanksgiving. Now imagine that you can’t hear those things or that they are muted.
Missing out on these sounds can take the enjoyment out of the season. Fortunately, many hearing problems are temporary and can be resolved by dealing with underlying causes that are often simple to fix or prevent. Take these steps to safeguard your hearing, and enjoy autumn to its fullest.
How to protect your hearing
There is indisputable evidence showing that exposure to loud sounds can lead to temporary hearing loss and that long-term exposure can turn it into a long-term problem. Loud noises damage the delicate parts of your inner ear, and you should do what you can to minimize the problem.
A one-time, very loud sound like an explosion can cause temporary hearing loss, and while immediate medical attention can help minimize the effects, that’s difficult to avoid. Prolonged exposure to sounds measuring 85 decibels or louder can cause hearing damage and is typically more preventable.
Heavy traffic comes in at 85 decibels, and sirens come in at 120 decibels. In addition to firecrackers and fireworks, loud music through earbuds can also present a threat to your hearing. Be cautious when boosting the volume, as the proximity of the sound to your eardrum can cause damage. Unfortunately, there are no special allowances for enjoying your preferred song with earbuds or headphones.
Autumn’s celebrations typically include outdoor get-togethers and live music events. The enjoyable weather continues, making it an ideal time to head to a nearby park, where you can fire up a barbecue and take pleasure in a peaceful picnic on a blanket. Take care, though, if you sit directly in front of the speakers, you might be hit with a whopping 140 decibels. Concerts frequently reach hazardous decibel levels even at a significant distance.
What’s the best course of action to take?
The best thing you can do for yourself is to wear earplugs. By taking precautions, you can minimize the risk of hearing damage while still being able to completely experience the music and fireworks display. As alluring as it is, try not to keep creeping closer to those speakers as the night passes.
Safeguard your ears from cold weather
Safeguarding your ears as the weather gets colder and more windy is essential to prevent infections. Make sure that you and your family have on ear protection like ear muffs or a hat. While ear infections are frequently associated with children, they can also affect grown-ups, and it’s not just limited to parents and grandparents. These infections cause fluid to build up in your middle ear, and they result in irritation. Discharge from the ear, soreness, and impaired hearing are possible symptoms you might encounter.
Get immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing symptoms of an ear infection. Not getting treatment for this problem, which could be a warning of an underlying medical condition, presents risks to your well-being.
Carefully and successfully eliminate earwax
Earwax, in spite of being bothersome, plays a crucial part in catching dirt, bugs, and debris to prevent them from entering your inner ear. If you have too much earwax, though, it can be a problem, especially if it obstructs your hearing.
The first step in avoiding hearing problems caused by earwax is prevention. You may have spent decades reaching for a cotton swab or some other item to clean wax, but please break that habit. Cotton swabs force the wax into your ear canal, causing a blockage and hearing loss.
Try cleaning your ears by putting in drops of hydrogen peroxide or buying over-the-counter drops. Allow the drops to sit for a little while, then tilt your head to help with drainage. Consider getting in touch with an audiologist or hearing specialist if ear cleaning seems daunting or if you suspect a severe blockage. They have special instruments to make the job easier.
Medications might be the cause
If you beging taking a new medication and noticed that you suddenly have a harder time hearing, it might be the medication. Certain antibiotics, diuretics, large doses of aspirin, and other drugs can lead to hearing problems. If you are worried about this matter, consult your physician right away to figure out whether you should continue using your medication.
Be certain to have any decline in your hearing immediately checked out.
If you’re detecting a decline in your hearing this season, consider consulting an audiologist or hearing specialist for assistance.