Last week, we shared informative ways to prevent hearing loss. This week’s blog will continue on this topic. With the loud parties and rowdy activities coming up for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, be sure to read further to hold useful information for protecting your hearing.
A glance back:
We mentioned that loud noises cause hearing loss. We shared that wearing protection could help reduce hearing loss. Last week, we spoke of unexpected threats to your ears such as TV volume, stereo volume, and even children toy’s volume.
Household items such as blenders, hair dryers, food processors, and vacuum cleaners cause hearing loss especially in small animals and young children. For ear care, Q-tips or any other foreign objects, even fingers, should never enter the ear to clean ears. Doctors may clean ears for you safely with liquid or via other non-invasive ways.
Ask if the meds you take cause hearing loss:
One way to prevent hearing loss is managing the medications you are taking closely. Taking a pill seems like the last thing to worry about when trying to prevent hearing loss, but doctors say this is something that may be a threat to your hearing. Certain medications that you may be taking could be affect your ears. Medications that are toxic to the ear are called ototoxic medications. These include some antibiotics, diuretics, chemotherapy agents, and high doses of aspirin.
Do your own research as well as ask your doctors if any medications you are taking are ototoxic. There may be a safe alternative that is not ototoxic. If there is not a safe alternative, inquire with your doctor if the dose can be safely reduced.
Smoke is harmful to your ears:
Smoking is very harmful to the body and it may seem like the last body part to be affected by smoke is the ears. However, tobacco smoke has been linked to hearing loss. If you have been considering quitting, this may be the perfect motivator to quit. If you do not smoke, be aware of second hand smoke in order to protect your hearing.
Keeping a good diet, not just a resolution:
With New Year’s Eve coming up tomorrow, the most common resolution is most of the time regarding a diet or health. A diet should not be the goal. A way of life should be implanted for the body’s overall health. But in terms of ear heath, it is best to eat better quality of calories.
Studies have shown that people that have poor diets are linked to higher chances of hearing loss. Yet another motivator, if you want to protect your hearing, eat healthy!
The dangers of New Year’s Eve:
New Year’s Eve is a time of celebration. Because of this ambiance, parties are filled with loud noises including noise makers, loud music, and people yelling. Do not limit your fun, but be cognicant of the noise that is threatening to your hearing.
To protect your hearing, avoid loud bars, parties, or music for extended periods of time. Purchase skin-colored ear plugs or wear stylish ear muffs if you are one for accessories. Remember that fireworks are extremely loud and front row seats are not better in this scenario. If you will not be in loud bars, parties, or restaurants for NYE, during fireworks, put a hat or your jacket’s hoodie on to protect your ears, at the very least.
Remember that pets are part of the family too. Fireworks may be scary to your dogs and cats, and they are also harmful to your pets hearing just as much as they are to yours. Keep them indoors as some animals have open ear that. For example, French Bulldogs’ ears stand straight up and they cannot “close” their ears.
Hearing loss can greatly affect the quality of your life, so do as much as you can to prevent hearing loss by following our tips from this week and last week. Make an appointment today to see your trusted doctors at Orlando ENT Hearing Center for a check-up or to discuss any of your concerns. Have a great New Year’s Eve and we will speak again in 2019!
Staff Writer
