As we grow older, our faculties decline, and that’s true for our hearing as well. It’s impossible to preserve your hearing entirely as you age, but there are some things you can do to protect it as much as possible.
Here are three tips you can use to retain your hearing as you age.
1. Wear Hearing Protection
Any time you’re exposed to loud noises, use hearing protection.
If you know you’re going to be around loud noises for extended periods of time, it’s a good idea to wear earmuffs or noise-cancelling headphones. For instance, if you have to spend time near a construction site or go to a racetrack.
However, you can’t always predict when noise will be present. That’s why it’s useful to carry a pair of foam earplugs with you at all times. Earplugs won’t reduce noise as much as earmuffs, but they will make a substantial difference for the longevity of your hearing.
2. Limit Listening Times
Often, we can get carried away and listen to music or podcasts for hours on end. Even if you listen at a reasonable level, you should be wary of the time you spend listening. Low-level sounds can still have an impact on your hearing.
The louder the sound, the less time it will take to affect you. Therefore, try to implement short listening intervals whenever you can to break up the overall exposure to sounds. And limit the time you spend listening every day.
3. Get Regular Checkups
Even if you don’t suspect hearing loss, you’re well-advised to seek a professional examination periodically. If you’re in a high-risk population, it’s even more important to keep track of your hearing and implement a corresponding strategy if you do start to experience serious hearing loss.
