Autumn brings in its own compelling sounds you don’t want to miss, including the crackling of a warm fire, leaves crunching beneath your feet, and kids laughing and playing. Now imagine those sounds fading away or becoming muffled, diminishing your enjoyment of these precious moments.
Hearing issues can put a damper on your autumn experiences, but fortunately, many hearing problems can be avoided or treated with simple precautions. Make sure you don’t miss fall’s wonderful soundscape, and be proactive about safeguarding your hearing.
Protect your ears from noise
The most common cause of both permanent and temporary hearing loss is exposure to loud sounds. Exposure to sounds above 85 decibels (dB) can compromise the sensitive structures of your inner ear, leading to hearing loss.
What are prevalent sources of damaging noise?
- Sirens: 120 dB
- Outdoor concerts and events: Often 90-140 dB
- Heavy traffic: 85 dB
Occasionally attending a loud event can cause hearing loss that is usually temporary and will improve over a day or two. Repeated exposure to loud noises, like attending concerts regularly, or listening to loud audio on headphones every day, can result in more permanent hearing loss.
Guidelines for protecting your hearing in autumn
- Wear earplugs at events: If you attend outdoor concerts or Halloween parties, use earplugs to lower the volume without muting the experience.
- Avoid sitting near loudspeakers: While getting right up close to the action may be enticing, the volume level right beside the loudspeakers is dangerously loud and can definitely damage your hearing.
- Turn down your headphones: In order to counter damage, listen at a lower volume level and limit headphone usage.
Keeping your ears healthy when it’s cold out
Remember to protect your ears from the cold as temperatures drop. Cold weather can have a major impact on your hearing, leaving you vulnerable to ear infections. Ear infections are more common when it’s cold out and both adults and children are vulnerable.
Why ear infections are dangerous
Cold air can cause swelling and fluid buildup in the middle ear, leading to discomfort, pain, and temporary hearing loss. If an ear infection is neglected, it can impact both your hearing health and your general health, leading to more serious health issues.
Safeguarding your ears when it’s cold
- Pay attention to symptoms: Get assessed and treated by a healthcare provider immediately if you experience sudden hearing loss, have pain in your ear, or have any fluid draining from your ear.
- Wear ear protection: Invest in earmuffs, headbands, or hats that fully cover your ears to keep them warm.
Safe ear cleaning tips
While earwax is usually viewed as a nuisance, it plays a vital role in keeping your ears healthy by capturing dust, debris, and insects. However, too much earwax can block your ear canal and lead to considerable issues.
You should never clean your ears with cotton swabs as they can push earwax further into the ear canal and potentially cause ear damage. Here are some better cleaning suggestions:
- Hydrogen peroxide drops: Use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide or an over-the-counter earwax solution to soften and clear out excess wax. After the drops have been in your ear for several minutes, tilt your head to allow for drainage.
- Consult a professional: If you’re unsure about cleaning your ears or suspect you have a wax blockage, visit us for a consultation. We can prevent further issues by using specialized tools to safely remove the earwax.
Hearing loss induced by medication
Hearing problems are one of the unforeseen side effects of some medications. Your hearing can be impaired by some common medications, such as diuretics, antibiotics, and large doses of aspirin.
If you observe changes in your hearing after starting a new medication, it’s important to contact your physician. Whether your hearing loss is due to a new medication, and if so, what to do about it, are things they will assist you with.
As soon as you notice indications of hearing loss, take action
Fall is filled with unique sounds you don’t want to miss. Make an appointment for a consultation if you detect any changes to your hearing.