Fleets of school buses have taken to the streets. Kids are rocking new threads. The crispness of fall is beginning to creep into the air. It’s official: Back-to-school season is here. In the frenzy of returning to school, it’s easy to forget about your personal health. And staying healthy during the school year goes far beyond getting a flu shot – you also need to look after your ears. While protecting your hearing might not be at the top of your to-do list, maintaining your hearing is a lifelong job. Read on for some back-to-school hearing health tips.
Prevent Hearing Loss Before It Happens
Hearing loss isn’t just a concern for older individuals. Young people can cause irreversible damage to their hearing in a number of situations including concerts, school dances, marching band practice, and more. That’s why it’s essential to take precautions to keep your hearing healthy, even from a young age. For example, students involved in noisy activities like marching band should consider wearing musicians’ earplugs to practice. Musicians’ earplugs will protect their hearing without dulling the sound too drastically. High schoolers enjoying their first years of driving should also make sure to keep their car’s music volume relatively low – both for their hearing health and the comfort of those around them. Finally, students should stay alert at school events like concerts and school dances. These events can get noisy, and students should avoid standing next to noise sources like speakers.
Ditch the Cotton Swabs
If you’re heading back to school, you want to look your best. This year, make sure to remove cotton swabs from your hygiene routine. Cotton swabs, which are frequently used to clean out ear canals, can be dangerous when it comes to protecting your hearing. First, they can remove earwax, leaving the sensitive ear canal vulnerable to dust and other harmful particles. Second, it’s extremely dangerous to insert anything into your ear canal. Even something as small as a cotton swab can damage the sensitive eardrum. If you have excess earwax, you can gently clean around your ear canal with a damp towel. If your earwax is impeding your hearing or your ears feel clogged, consult an audiologist.
Schedule a Hearing Evaluation
Hearing evaluations aren’t just for hard-of-hearing adults and seniors. If you’re 18 or older and getting ready to head to college – or you’re just due for a checkup – make time for a hearing evaluation. This is especially important if you’ve noticed that you’re having more trouble hearing that usual. Untreated hearing loss is more than just a nuisance; it’s also been linked to health issues like depression, dementia, and heart disease. In fact, we recommended a schedule for hearing evaluations as we get older:
- 18 to 45 years of age: Every three years
- 45 to 65 years of age: Every two years
- 65 years of age and older: Every year
If you’ve never had a hearing evaluation, now is a good time to start so your doctor can keep tabs on your hearing health as you age. A hearing evaluation is also a good time to talk to your doctor if you’re considering hearing aids, or if you need your hearing aids cleaned and inspected. At your appointment, you’ll receive additional hearing health tips based on your unique needs.
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Looking for more hearing health tips? Reach out to Sound Relief Hearing Center if you’re located in Colorado or Arizona. We are independently owned, so we always have the patient’s best interests at heart. Plus, our state-of-the-art technology ensures that our patients receive the best treatment available. With our unparalleled excellence in the hearing industry, our dedication to patient satisfaction, and our commitment to helping people control and conquer their hearing issues, you can count on Sound Relief Hearing Center for support and assistance. To learn more about us, please browse our website, visit our YouTube channel, or give us a call at 720-344-7600. You can also schedule an appointment online to meet with one of our audiologists. We look forward to hearing from you!
At Sound Relief Tinnitus & Hearing Center, we provide hope and help to those living with tinnitus and other hearing health issues. Our patients are at the center of everything we do, and we strive to guide them to overcome their challenges by delivering innovative and compassionate healthcare.
Dr. Julie Prutsman, owner of this family-owned practice, has expanded to 9 locations across Colorado and Arizona. In 2012, she founded Sound Relief in her hometown of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and continues to foster their mission through mentorship of the brightest minds in the field of Audiology.