Hearing loss happens for various reasons and once the hearing was damaged, it’s gone forever. On the bright side, most of the reasons could be prevented. Here are a few ways to protect our ears.

1) Avoid loud noises

Ears are vulnerable to sound thus we have to be careful when there’s loud noise around us. The best way to protect our ears is to use earplugs. It could reduce harmful sound levels that will harm the ears.

2) Apply the 60/60 rule

We often listen to music through headphones or earbuds for long hours. Follow the 60/60 rule while enjoying music to protect our hearing. The suggestion is to listen at lower than 60% volume for less than 60 minutes a day. Besides, opt for over-the-ear headphones if possible as earbuds fit close to the eardrum and could be dangerous if used for long hours. 

3) Keep ears dry

Moisture would allow bacteria to enter the ear canal. Make sure to towel-dry your ears gently after swimming or showering. Swimmers’ earplugs are useful to block water from our ears when swimming.

4) Reduce stress 

Anxiety was usually linked to tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. Our body will go into fight or flight mode during high levels of stress that will cause temporary tinnitus. Exercise regularly to reduce stress and do cardio exercises to maintain regular blood flow to the ears

5) Be aware of medications

Take medications only as directed by doctors or pharmacists. Some medications like aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicine could lead to hearing loss. Make sure to check with the doctor regarding the side effects of the medication. 

Hearing loss usually develops slowly and might be difficult to detect at an earlier stage. Start protecting our ears now to prevent hearing loss.