Can Hearing Loss be Prevented?

It's estimated that 71% of people over the age of 70 will experience some form of hearing loss, this is normal as the tiny hairs in your ears, the cilia, start to die off. But this can occur sooner as well causing your hearing to decline long before it's expected. Below are some ways you can prevent hearing loss in the short and long term. 

Avoid loud noises 

Much of the time hearing loss is the result of exposure to loud noises. This is one type of hearing loss that is easy to prevent or at least reduces its impact. Avoid loud noises if you can or wear ear protection such as headphones or earplugs.

The other type of hearing loss, presbycusis  is a little harder to prevent. One in three adults over the age of 65 will experience this decline as they age, but adequate ear protection throughout life should extend hearing life and prevent decline. 

Use caution with listening devices 

One of the reasons for hearing decline is the death of cilia, the tiny hairs in the ear that carry sound to the cochlea. Volumes over 80 decibels can result in the damage or premature death of cilia. 

When you use listening devices like earphones the volume of the music or audiobook is louder and goes deeper into the ear. To prevent hearing loss you need to ensure your blouse is low or that you're wearing some ear canceling headphones. 

Protect your hearing 

Life would not be as enjoyable or entertaining if we had to avoid loud noises like music concerts all the time. While it might be the best thing to do to protect your hearing from long term damage, there are ways you can still enjoy the beats. 

At music concerts try to stay away from the loudspeakers as much as you can, direct noise from close up loudspeakers can be very harmful. Make a point of taking a break from the noise every 15 minutes and give your hearing around 18 hours to recover. 

Take precautions at work 

Employers are obliged to take measures to protect the hearing of employees, so if you think your long-term hearing might be at risk from a job you're doing you should approach your manager and ask for some relief. 

Solutions to this problem might include switching to a quiet environment, taking regular breaks from the boiler and protecting your hearing with headgear or earmuffs. Always consider the long-term health effects of the job you are doing. 

Test regularly 

Most people will experience some hearing loss at some point in their lives particularly over the age of 70, but while most age-related hearing loss can't be fully prevented there are measures you can take to prolong your hearing as much as possible. 

One excellent way of doing this is by having your hearing checked regularly by an audiologist. An audiologist can check your hearing once a year and give you an assessment of any changes that have occurred. You can then optimize your treatment as required.