4 things that can cause ear damage

Hearing loss is more common than most people think. In fact, about 5% of the world’s population experiences some type of hearing issue. Below are four ear damage causes, including loud noise.

On preventative health

While most types of hearing loss are irreversible, there are things you can do to protect your ears every single day, and even boost your overall hearing health. From exercising and eating right to making sure you get your ears checked each year, preventative health is the best way to take care of your ears.

But, it’s also important to get rid of habits that could be causing damage to your hearing. Unfortunately, far too many people aren’t aware of what those habits are or what they could really be doing to your long-term ear health.

So, let’s take a look at a few things that could harm your hearing and lead to permanent auditory damage. The more you educate yourself on these things now, the easier it can be to change your habits and take precautionary measures to protect your ears.

1. Ear damage from loud noise

Chances are, you either listen to music, podcasts, or watch television at some point in your day. Whatever your preferred media choice is, it’s important to use volume control whenever you can. Many people listen to things way too loudly, and that can cause lasting damage to your ears.

A good rule of thumb is that you should be able to listen to something and talk normally while it’s playing. If you have to shout over the music or words, chances are it’s too loud.

Some personal devices, like smartphones, have decibel settings. You can take a look at those settings and create a “limit” for yourself, so no matter what you’re listening to, it will never go past a healthy volume level.

2. Smoking

There are many reasons why you shouldn’t smoke. But, for now, let’s focus on how it can affect your ears. The carbon dioxide and nicotine in smoke can actually limit blood flow to your ears, which can make it harder to hear and eventually cause permanent damage.

It’s also been found that smoking can damage the lining of your inner ear. That inner ear “clogs up,” which also contributes to lasting damage and may make it even harder to hear as you get older.

People who have smoked for years might be at a greater risk of having to use hearing aids later in life. Unfortunately, that means they may also have to deal with hearing aid side effects like headaches, irritation, and feedback.

3. Surprising ear damage causes: Household appliances

You might not think your everyday appliances could impact your hearing, but they certainly can. Many appliances, including vacuums, blenders, and hairdryers can harm your ears when they are used frequently.

While you may not be able to stop using these appliances altogether, limit your time with them. Try not to vacuum each day.

Or, look for products that specifically have been designed to be quieter. Nowadays, many manufacturers are taking the volume of their product(s) into consideration. So, don’t be afraid to do your research on different items and choose the ones that have invested their time in creating quieter models that are safer for your ears – especially for things you use every day.

4. Your daily commute

If you commute to work each day using public transportation, you could actually be putting your hearing at risk. While you may not be able to avoid your commute, there are things you can do to protect yourself from thise final thing on the ear damage causes list.

If you have to take noisy public transportation like a bus or train, consider using earplugs or putting in headphones to listen to music at a low volume. If you drive to work on a busy highway each day, keep your windows rolled up to avoid excess noise from other vehicles. Don’t try to drown out that noise with the radio, as that can make things worse.

Start protecting your ears today

Obviously, you don’t have to completely change your lifestyle or routine in order to keep your ears safe and protected. But, there are small things you can change and adjustments you can make to keep healthy hearing a priority.

The more you educate yourself on ear damage causes, including loud noise, the more you’ll be aware of how you can protect them on a daily basis, and have better hearing as you get older. If you’re not sure where your hearing stands right now, one of the best things you can do is to get it checked by a doctor. A hearing professional will be able to give you even more insight into the health of your hearing and more tips on how to protect your ears every day.