It’s the new year, and that means it’s time to set some healthy goals for the year ahead. You might be focusing on eating healthy, exercising more, or taking up a new hobby. But have you thought about your hearing health? Do you want to enjoy better hearing in the months ahead? These are some of our best tips for healthy hearing in the new year.
Find Out How Loud is Too Loud
One of the best ways to have healthy hearing in the new year is to protect your hearing from dangerously loud noise. Do you know how loud is too loud? When you’re at a concert or working at a loud jobsite, try talking to the person next to you. Did you have to shout to have a conversation? Then it’s too loud, and you’re hurting your ears. When you’re in dangerously loud noise, protect your hearing! Wearing ear plugs is the best way to protect your hearing from these loud noises, and prevent hearing loss.
When it comes to listening to your favorite music or podcasts, practice safe listening. Never turn up the volume higher than 60%. Cranking up the volume can blast dangerously loud noise right into your ears. Don’t turn up your music when background noise gets louder, and don’t turn it up during quiet songs. Practice safe listening to enjoy healthy hearing in the new year.
Learn to Recognize Hearing Loss
Do you know the signs of hearing loss? Learning to recognize hearing loss will help you have healthy hearing. You’ll be able to seek treatment as soon as you notice hearing loss, and avoid further damage to your hearing. Some of the most common signs of hearing loss include:
- Turning up the volume on the TV or radio until others in the household complain that it’s too loud.
- Struggling to hear conversations on the phone.
- Having a hard time hearing during conversations.
- Having a hard time following conversations in any place with lots of background noise.
- Asking people to repeat themselves frequently.
- Feeling that others are mumbling or speaking too softly.
- Missing soft sounds in your environment, like the beeping of your stove, or the chirping of birds.
- Sleeping through your alarm in the morning.
- Hearing a ringing or buzzing sound in your ear, called tinnitus.
You may not be the first person to recognize your hearing loss. Hearing loss is very gradual, and you might not recognize the small changes in your daily hearing abilities. In fact, your family may notice your hearing loss before you do. They’ll recognize that you’re not following conversations as well as you used to, or that you’re having a hard time hearing on the phone. If your loved ones bring up your hearing loss, take it seriously.
Raise Awareness About Hearing Loss
Do you have hearing loss, or do you have a loved one with hearing loss? There are 50 million Americans with hearing loss, but many American’s don’t know that much about healthy hearing. Another way to promote healthy hearing in the new year is to raise awareness about hearing loss. While millions of Americans have hearing loss, only 1 in 3 people who need hearing aids are wearing them! That means many people are struggling with hearing loss when they don’t need to.
Talk openly to your family and friends about hearing loss, and raise awareness about hearing loss. Having a hearing loss is nothing to be ashamed of, and seeking treatment for hearing loss can change your life. Find out more about hearing aids and the modern technology that will help you hear. Then tell others about hearing aids!
Schedule a Hearing Test
When was the last time you had a hearing test? A great way to have healthy hearing in the new year is to schedule a hearing test! Adults in their 40s and 50s should get a hearing test every 3 to 5 years, while adults over 60 should schedule a hearing test every 1 to 2 years. If you haven’t had a hearing test in the last year, schedule a hearing test in the new year.
Visit us for a hearing test and find out more tips for healthy hearing in the new year.